There was much ‘infernal noise’ and merriment at Duloe Stone Circle this week as we awakened our newly planted ‘Avallan Rubi / Ruby Orchard’ from its winter slumber at our Wassail.
The Cornish Wassail dates back beyond the 14th century and is a tradition which aims to encourage a good harvest by waking the apple trees and toasting them with cider.
This event was a collaboration between Cornwall Heritage Trust and Liskeard Old Cornwall Society.
Thank you to everyone who, despite the wet weather, joined us with their musical instruments, pots and pans to scare away any ‘evil spirits’ that may prevent a good harvest this Autumn.
The festivities included a parade and traditional dancing led by Merv and Alison Davey, readings in Cornish and English, and toasting of the apple trees with mugs of cider.
It was rounded off with rousing renditions of the ‘Wassail Chant’ – written by Richard Polwhele 200 years ago – and ‘Trelawny’.
The orchard has recently been planted at the north-east end of the field, where the Duloe Stone Circle stands. We hope it will increase biodiversity on the site, become a focus of local festivities and produce apple crops which our charity will use at our annual Allantide events.
It includes a wide range of Cornish Heritage varieties, including Ben’s Red, Cornish Queen, Manaccan Primrose, Hocking’s Green, Cornish Aromatic, Cornish Pine, Tregonna King and Cornish Gilliflower.
The planting was funded by Cornwall Council’s Forest for Cornwall Programme and Cornwall Community Foundation through the Caradon Area Community Fund.
