An ancient English celebration will bring noise, song and festive cheer to Barnes Common next Saturday, when the local community gathers for the annual Barnes wassailing ceremony.
The tradition, which dates back centuries, sees communities gather in orchards during the darkest winter months to bless fruit trees, scare away evil spirits and toast a bountiful harvest for the year ahead. At Barnes, the event has become a fixture since the community orchard’s creation in 2018.
This year’s wassail promises a morning of weird and wonderful festivities. Proceedings kick off at 10am on 7 February at Vine Road Recreation Ground, where a procession led by the Wassail Master and Jester will make its way to the orchard with plenty of noise-making and merriment. The racket is essential to the ritual, traditionally achieved by banging pots and pans to wake the sleeping trees and drive away malevolent spirits.
The ceremony proper begins at 11am with a brief history of wassailing, community singing and the blessing of a tree. In keeping with ancient custom, cider-soaked toast will be placed in the branches as a gift to the tree spirits, whilst wassailers drink to the health of the orchard. The word wassail itself comes from the Old English “waes hál”, meaning “be in good health”, with revellers traditionally replying “drinc hael” or “drink good health”.
A morning of storytelling and song
After the blessing, the procession returns to Vine Road Park at 11.30am, stopping along the way for themed storytelling and poetry about food growing. The celebration continues at midday with a live performance by the Patch Ukulele Band, alongside hot soup from the Vine Road Community Cafe, a wishing tree and plenty of socialising.
Adding to the festivities, the Kingston Spring Grove Morris Dancers will perform traditional dances, continuing the folk customs that have accompanied wassailing for generations. Participants are encouraged to bring something to make a fantastic clamour, whether proper instruments or humble pots and pans.
The theme for this year’s event is wellbeing and connecting with nature, reflecting the deeper purpose behind the ancient ritual. Whilst modern celebrations focus on community joy and the marking of seasons, wassailing originally served a vital role in agricultural communities. When a failed harvest could spell disaster, gathering to bless the orchard and sing to the trees was both a practical hope for abundance and a moment of midwinter solidarity.
The tradition fell largely out of favour during the 19th century, replaced by Christmas carolling, but has enjoyed a revival in recent years. Community orchards across England now host wassails, particularly in historic cider-producing regions like Somerset, Devon and Kent. At Barnes, the ceremony celebrates not just ancient custom but the community’s own achievement in creating the orchard.
From disputed land to thriving orchard
The land known as the Former Goods Yard spent years disputed and degraded before community persistence and determination finally bore fruit. In 2018, Barnes Common Limited planted the first trees, transforming the site into a productive orchard and biodiversity haven. The first Winter Wassail followed in January 2019, establishing what has become an annual tradition to lighten darker days and bring the community together.
Market gardening and commercial fruit growing form an integral part of Barnes’ history, making the community orchard’s creation a restoration of heritage as much as an environmental project. Old fruit trees scattered through local gardens still tell stories of the area’s horticultural past.
Those planning to attend should dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy footwear, as the walk will traverse outdoor spaces. Warm spiced apple cider and tasty snacks will be available, along with hot soup to keep wassailers warm. Dogs are not permitted except guide dogs.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite, with both full-price and concession options to ensure cost doesn’t prevent participation. All proceeds support Barnes Common Limited’s future learning and conservation activities across Barnes Common, the Leg o’ Mutton Local Nature Reserve and Vine Road Recreation Ground.
The charity’s vision encompasses conservation, biodiversity, wellbeing and lifelong learning for all, making the wassail a perfect expression of these values. Whether you’re drawn by curiosity about ancient customs, love of community celebration, or simply fancy a warming drink and good company on a February morning, the Barnes wassailing offers a joyful way to mark the turning of seasons and the promise of spring to come.
