CELEBRATE the orchard in an ancient ceremony.

That’s the call going out as preparations are made for a wassailing event.

The Liberty Fields drinks firm will hold wassail celebrations at its Halstock orchards on Sunday, January 22, 3.30pm-6pm.

The ceremony, carried out to ensure a good apple crop for the year, takes place in orchards in late January.

Serenading the trees with songs and hot apple punch, the ‘good spirits’ are encouraged before any ‘bad spirits are noisily chased away’.

Orchard manager Ali Lemmey said: “We would love as many people as possible to join us for this most anarchic of apple events.

"Entry is free and visitors are encouraged to don a wassailing hat for the occasion. Any hat will do – just decorate it with some winter greenery.”

A bottle of Liberty Fields’ Porter’s Perfection vodka will be awarded to the owner of the best hat.

Tim Laycock and the Ridgeway Singers will lead everyone in the wassailing songs.

Lloyd Brown, local cocktail expert, will be giving out glasses of his newly-devised Liberty Fields' hot wassail punch (alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions).

The afternoon will start with a free glass of warm punch and 'green man' facepainting for the children.

At 4pm visitors will promenade down to the wassail tree for the ceremony and songs, followed by a noisy spirit-scaring procession through the orchards, (feel free to take your own pots/pans/wooden spoons/dustbin lids, etc).

The celebrations will continue with the lighting of the bonfire and judging of the wassail hats before concluding with the firing of the wassail rocket.

More details on 01935 892430.