They are so short, these winter days. Cold, bleak, grim, stark, dreary, grey – however you describe them, there is not much love given to them. Especially from us gardeners. And then suddenly, there is half an inch of snow and everything changes. The snow asks us to look at the world differently. It simplifies outlines, and draws our eyes towards the smallest of details; a single gold-brown leaf, the one patch of green grass left visible. It resets our eyes, our thoughts, our state of mind. It makes me think of fairy tales – when I was little there was a wonderful version of Snow White on the television. It was made in Eastern Europe and it was set in a forest of the tallest, straightest trees I had ever seen. And the snow was so deep, and so real. Something of that survives in my heart even when I am trudging through the city slush.
Which is all a way of saying – look, look how lovely the orchard is at the moment.

It was a beautiful, crisp, cold day for our Wonderful Wassail. We had musicians, singers, dancers and a Green Man. A big thank you to Ursula Stubbings for her work on a dance and for bringing along a good sized group of musicians who made the whole event really enjoyable. The trees were decorated with slices of toast dipped in the wassail cup and everyone enjoyed a cup of hot mulled apple juice which kept the bitter cold at bay.

Unlike this blog… A long slow winter of illness, unfortunately, put paid to any exciting plans on my part so I was keeping out of things. However, the orchard has been quite happily growing and budding without me, and this seems a good time to remind everyone what we are all about.
Trumpington Community Orchard is free access. You can pop in to this lovely green space whenever you need to breathe, for ten minutes or for an hour. Dogs can be secured outside – assistance dogs are allowed in.
If you want to know more about growing apple trees, just ask us on our Facebook page. We can offer talks, grafting workshops, art sessions – just drop us an enquiry and we will take it from there.
I need more pictures – anyone with pictures of the orchard, please email them to us. In the meantime, here are a couple I took nearby, first of some spring flowers, and two of a bumble bee finding a daffodil that fitted her just right!

a winter jasmine blossom

Are you involved in running a community orchard project? Would you like to set up a community orchard near you? If so, please register for our Community Orchard Conference.
Wed 8 May 2013 – Community Orchard Conference
We will have speakers from the East of England Apples and Orchards Project as well as Peter Jackson, gardening expert, and speakers on biodiversity and orchard habitats. But the main focus of the day will be on letting those involved in community orchards talk to, and learn from, each other. Come and share your best ideas, learn from others’ mistakes and successes, and get stronger links with the network of community orchards across the region.
Places are limited. Cost is £10 per delegate, includes sandwich lunch and refreshments. To register for a place, email trumpingtonorchard@yahoo.co.uk

I am getting very excited about our 2013 Wassail – I think it is going to be something special. Because of the popularity of the event, we have spread it out over the weekend. Saturday 12 Jan is given over to the lantern making workshops, where you can turn up and make a lantern to use at the Wassail. The workshops are being held in Trumpington Village Hall, which is easy to find and has adjacent parking. Full details on the Village Hall – just click here.

Then on Sunday 13 Jan we will have the Wassail itself in the Orchard, with a lantern procession from tree to tree. Just turn up at the Orchard gate, bringing some form of light or lantern.

Spread the word, invite your friends. Download our poster and share this post. I look forward to welcoming you to the Wassail Weekend.

wassail 2013 poster