THE FIRST planting of apple trees at Harrowbarrow and Metherell's Community Orchard was helped along with some wassailing by around 30 local residents.

The orchard was set up with help from Tamar Grow Local, a community interest company set up to support local food projects in the Tamar Valley and initial funding from the East Cornwall Local Action Group.

Linda Emmett from the local action group presented a plaque to orchard secretary Rachael Clayton at the event.

She said: 'We're keen to support grass roots organisations so that they can raise awareness of local food, and there's nothing wrong in having fun doing it!'

Rachael Clayton said 'We're really grateful to the action group for its grant which helped us get the orchard up and running.

'The first fruit trees were planted in October so it was wonderful to mark the occasion with a first wassailing event where cider made from apples harvested from trees in Harrowbarrow and Metherell was poured around the roots of the new tress to encourage good harvests in years to come.'

The young apple trees were wassailed in grand style. The Wassail was led by Dave Ledger, the orchard's head beekeeper.

Mr Ledger said: 'It was a brilliant turn out on a cold December afternoon and great to taste so many different local ciders pressed from our local orchard apples harvested this autumn which were obviously enjoyed by all as the singing of the traditional Cornish Wassail was fantastic.

'Even the bees were humming along.'

Refreshments, homemade cider and mince pies, were provided by the orchard homebrew club.

Tamar Grow Local project manager Simon Platten said: 'It was a great afternoon, and really nice to be present at the beginning of another Harrowbarrow and Metherell annual tradition.'