Wassail at the Orchard

What a great afternoon was had at the Wassail in Donkey Lane Community Orchard on Sunday 22nd January. We hope everyone who came enjoyed themselves. With 110 people making such a noise we’re sure to have driven out any bad luck for the year. We’re sorry to have run out of mulled cider and mulled apple juice; it was obviously very cold or we had a thirsty bunch of visitors! We’ll make sure we have more essential supplies next year.

Our thanks to Claire Conway-Crapp from the Mid Shires Orchard Group who did a marvellous job of leading the Wassail and to Rev’d Jacky Barr for the final blessing. And to Towersey Village Voices, it was lovely hearing their “voices” in the Orchard.

The next event at the Orchard will be the Blossom Day on the 22nd April.

A reminder that we hold regular working parties on the 1st Tuesday of the month 10:00 am - 1:00 pm and on the 3rd Saturday of the month 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. All are welcome to join in, no experience required, just come along to the Orchard at the designated date and time. Tools and equipment supplied.

Photo credit: Steve Gunn 2023

Photo credit: Steve Gunn 2023

Sunday 22nd January 2023 - Wassail at Donkey Lane Community Orchard

Not long now to our 2023 Winter Wassail at Donkey Lane Community Orchard on Sunday 22nd January 2023 2pm - 4pm.

Bring the family along to join in this traditional celebration to wish good health for the orchard, wealth for the community and a bountiful fruit harvest. Dress up warmly and bring percussion instruments like drums, triangles, maracas or pans and spoons, anything you can clatter together to make a noise!

There's no need to book; the event is free and open to everyone. Donations are welcomed (cash only) in return for refreshments, for the Donkey Lane Community Orchard.

Weather and clothing

Check the weather forecast and dress up appropriately. Bring a brolly if needed! Wear wellington boots or stout, waterproof footwear that is suitable for walking around in an orchard environment in winter weather.

Ground Conditions

The orchard floor is covered in a mixture of grasses and a variety of wild plants. The terrain is uneven and dependent on the weather, there may be areas of mud, so watch your step. Windfall apples that haven't yet been eaten by wildlife may also be slippery underfoot. Ground conditions in the orchard may not be suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs without rough terrain tyres. The Orchard can be reached by heading up Keen's Lane and crossing the railway crossing into Donkey Lane. The Orchard is directly on the right-hand side. Please be aware that Donkey Lane can be extremely muddy in wet weather.

We look forward to welcoming you to our 2023 Winter Wassail!

Wassail 2023

DATE: Sunday 22nd January 2023 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm at the Orchard

Greening Chinnor and the Mid Shires Orchard Group invite you and your family to the annual Winter Wassail for the Donkey Lane Community Orchard! 

The Anglo-Saxon ‘wes haile!’ or ‘wase hail!’ was a hearty wish for good health and fortune. We shout ‘Wassail!’ to toast our apple trees, that they may be healthy and fruitful for the coming year and bring us good harvest and bounty. We also make lots of noise to ward off bad luck and mischievous spirits, so they stay away and don’t steal the fruit!

Cross the railway crossing and enter the Donkey Lane Community Orchard via the ancient trackway… Appreciate the lovely vista of the historic 19th century apple trees in this rural Chiltern's landscape. Enjoy the warm scent of apples as the hodgepodge of windfalls are crushed underfoot. Admire the decorated trees that are the King and Queen of the Orchard, hung with all their finery.

The event is lots of fun and we welcome audience participation. Make a din to scare off mischievous spirits, by banging drums, blowing horns, beating pots and pans and joining in the Wassail song . Assembled children (of all ages!) will scatter a festive seed mix, for the wildlife to enjoy

After the main event, congregate around the Refreshments Stall to enjoy more cider, mulled cider, mulled apple juice, apple juice and cake. Small cash donations are welcomed in return for refreshments, for the Orchard. 

Take a tour of the Orchard

• Take a walk around the Donkey Lane Community Orchard with your hosts
• Visit the historic apple and plum trees and learn more about them
• Discover the site of the old well and the cottages
• Learn how you can help keep this orchard flourishing, join in working parties and enjoy orchard events

You’ve read about Wassails in the Parish Pump; now come along and enjoy one for yourself. Bring along some musical instruments, pots, pans and wooden spoons… anything that will make a noise!

For more information about Wassails, check out he excellent article written by Christine Davis on our our Story page