Local Children Encouraged To Wake Up Trees- Wassailing In The Sunshine!

On 18 February at Eastbrookend Community Orchard, Havering children were encouraged to wake up the trees with their singing and musical instruments, known as wassailing an old English tradition.

 Processing from the visitor centre with the rangers and families, were the members of the Romford Ceilidh Band who led the wassail. Pictured below are Shaun Tuck from Company Drinks, a sponsor of the event, Ellan, Rich, Steve, Jane, and Carol from London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Park Rangers.

Alana, one of the founders of the Romford Ceilidh Band, told the children about the history of Wassailing in England. Everyone, including mums and grannies, rangers, and singers then practiced the verses of the wassail song.

Following this, there was a loud and cheerful procession around the orchard before the oldest tree in the orchard was hung with bread to bless it. A special poem for the oldest Apple Tree was read out: –

Old apple tree we wassail thee

And hope that thou will bear

For who doth know where we shall be

Come apples another year

For to bloom well and to bear well

So merry let us be

Let every man take off his hat

And shout out to the old apple tree

Old apple tree we wassail thee

And hope that thou will bear

Hat fulls, cap fulls, three bushel bag fulls

And a little heap under the stair

Hip! Hip! Hooray!

 Alana told the Havering Daily: “We were blessed by the great weather, it encouraged a super turnout. All the Ceilidh Band members enjoyed lending their voices in song to support the Park Rangers who organised a fun outdoor event in the marvellous setting of Eastbrookend Park.”

She added, “Romford Ceilidh Band meets at the Golden Lion Public House in Romford every Monday to sing folk music. We practice with our instruments from 7pm until 8pm and then sing til 9pm.

It is free and everyone is welcome!

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