GQT - Questions and answers from 29th November 2023

Click here for the link to: GQT - Questions and answers from 29th November 2023

On the Wildlife Trust website there is a free guide on 'How to go peat free at home'.

RHS recommendations for flowering plants for bees throughout the year

Peat Free Gardening by Sally Morgan

Traditionally the Topsham Wassail is the 3rd Thursday of January, so if you have a fruit tree in your garden, we encourage you to wassail it.  I suggest 6pm, but it’s up to you, after dark is best.

You will need:

A fruit tree

Voice

Cider or fruit juice

Toast

Something to bash and make a noise

A warm coat

Optional extras:

Licensed shotgun

Apple cake

Lanterns

Children (wassail virgin).

Instructions:

1. Place toast in the tree to encourage robins

2. Sing the Topsham wassail song and chant to the tree (see below)

3. Pour some cider or fruit juice on the roots

4. Make a loud noise to awake the tree.

5. Retreat back inside to drink cider and eat apple cake.

Topsham wassail song -  with thanks to Adrian and Lucy Wynn of the Topsham Folk Club

In the orchard dark we muster

North wind whistles in the Northwood tree

Gather Topsham sing and rattle

We’ll bring cider back to thee

Prosper, Greasy Soldier, prosper

In these orchard soils of old

Gather round and Old Tom Putt

Will flow and fill your wassail bowl

Chant

Here’s to thee Old Apple tree

That blooms well, bears well,

Hats full, caps full,

Three bushel bags full

And all under one tree!

For any enthusiasts, here are some links to other traditional, more familiar wassail songs:

Gloucestershire Wassail · Ian Giles https://youtu.be/Ttn_bh8rAzA

 The Somerset Wassail - Magpie Lane -  https://youtu.be/rWgZGsGLNUk

 Here We Come A Wassailing - The Watersons  https://youtu.be/ggkJTKqboIY