FREE 'Twelfth Night' Morning Orchard Wassail for Schools

The morning Wassail is especially for schools.

Book early for your school to take part.

Space for up to 60 in the party including children and adults

Wassail, meaning ‘Good Health’, is a traditional celebration of Apple Orchards.

It is held on twelfth night, which in the modern calendar is 5th January, but in the old calendar was 17th January.

This is the twelfth day in the song 'The twelve Days of Christmas'. The first day is Christmas Day.

Wassailers wear crowns made from evergreen foliage, usually Ivy. We will be able to weave some Ivy crowns.

This is followed by a parade through the orchards, singing and making a noise with drums or other objects, to frighten off any evil spirits who may be hiding among the branches, and to encourage a good crop of fruit later in the year. It reminds the trees that they need to awaken in spring too.

Toast is hung in the trees to encourage birds to come to eat bugs and insects that might harm the young fruits from forming properly.

Wassail punch is drunk to toast the orchards and is generally shared with the strongest tree in the orchard to encourage strong growth for all the trees.

You will have a chance to learn about Orchards and Wassailing, and to weave an Ivy crown.

Then parade through the orchards, beating a drum, or similar noisy item, and perhaps singing a Wassail song that you have learned in the morning or beforehand in the school classroom.

Then hang some toast in the trees for the birds and join in the Wassail toast, with some tasty warm Wassail Punch, to share with the trees.

A fun and educational morning covering a broad range of NC subjects including history, science, geography, maths, technology, sustainability, society, english language and literature, spirituality and more. 

Suitable for all age groups.

CONTACT JENNY TO FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR PLACE.  

email: hello@daltonmoorfarm.co.uk 

or phone: 07887551643

In most cases the visit will be free of charge.

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Dalton Moor Farm is located just to the north of Murton Village and is accessed via Truro Avenue, Murton.

The access lane entrance is between houses 42 and 43 Truro Avenue.

There is free parking in the farm yard suitable for cars and minibuses, but coaches need to park at the lane entrance and then there is a 400m walk down the hill to the farm.

In snowy weather, walking down the lane is the safest option, although care on foot needs to be taken too.

Compost loo, natural urinals, and hand washing are located next to the barn classroom.

Secure dry storage for belongings is in the barn classroom.

If bringing packed lunches these can be consumed in the barn classroom.

Most of the event is outdoors so warm layered water proof clothing and footwear is especially important.

Wellies are essential. Trainers and normal shoes are not suitable and will just result in cold wet feet.

The farm is risk assessed and insured for school visits, and vegan farmer Jenny is an experienced teacher, qualified in outdoor teaching and many other subjects.