TRADITIONAL songs and practices aimed at encouraging apple trees to produce a good crop were carried out in Cheney Manor this week.

The Twigs (Therapeutic Work In Gardening in Swindon) Community Gardens, in the grounds of the Manor Garden Centre, were awash with noise, colour and fun during a Wassail, a traditional celebration held each year in generations gone by.

Alan Holland, service manager at Twigs, said the medieval tradition was resurrected as a bit of fun.

“It’s a very old tradition, basically asking for a blessing on your fruit trees, particularly apple trees,” he explained.

“You’re trying to invoke a more productive crop of apples by having a blessing of a chosen apple tree.”

A 70-strong Wassail procession through the gardens was led by the Icknield Way Morris Men, accompanied by everyone making noise - part of the tradition - in a bid to awaken the apple trees from their winter slumber and scare off any bad spirits.

“Children particularly liked making noise, banging on old pots and pans or cake and sweet tins,” Alan said.

The procession ended at a chosen apple tree, where a master of ceremonies, known as a Buxler, explained what was happening and presented an honourary lady with a range of symbolic items, before the children hung dried toast on the tree.

“Our Buxler was Dick Millard and our honourary lady was Julie Allen,” Alan added.

“It is a bit of fun, a jolly event at a fairly gloomy time of year, when there’s not much going on, so it’s nice to revive that tradition and give people something to look forward to.”

After the ceremony had come to an end, the group of Wassailers was invited to retire to the patio of the garden centre, where more Morris dances were held and apple-based food and drink on offer to visitors.

For more information on the Twigs Community Gardens, log on to www.twigscommunitygardens.org.uk.