THE Tavy and Tamar Apple Group will be holding its annual Wassailing evening on Saturday (January 10) at 6.30pm in Bere Ferrers Church Hall and then in the adjoining orchard.

The apple Wassail is a traditional form of wassailing practised in the cider orchards of South West England during the winter.

The first recorded mention was at Fordwich, Kent, in 1585, by which time groups of young men would go between orchards performing the rite for a reward.

On Twelfth Night, men would go with their wassail bowl into the orchard and go about the trees. Slices of bread or toast were laid at the roots and sometimes tied to branches. Cider was also poured over the tree roots. The ceremony is said to 'bless' the trees to produce a good crop in the forthcoming season.

After a dismal crop in 2014, there will be renewed efforts during this ancient ceremony held at Bere Ferrers Church Hall and adjoining orchard to ensure that the programmes are again complied with to the letter.

The evening will start with a short story about Wassailing, followed by dancing and singing by the Border Morris and the Tavy Tars, who will then process from the hall to the adjacent orchard. There the Tars will exhort those present to sing various Wassailing songs, with much shouting and banging of drums and cans to frighten away evil spirits.

This is followed by hanging of toast to attract the insect loving birds and the solemn pouring of cider around the trees.

The evening then continues in the hall with music and dancing with drinks and pasties. This is all included in the ticket price of £5 (children are free but still need a ticket).

Tickets are available from Margaret's Hairdressers on 01822 840380.

The surplus in 2014 was donated to Devon Air Ambulance and Myeloma UK.

• Buckland Abbey is inviting people to grab pans, pots and other objects and make as much noise as possible for the annual wassail in the estate's ancient orchard on Saturday from 6pm to 8pm.

Join staff and volunteers, the Buckland Food Growers and local Morris dancers.