The National Trust building at Hunter's Base Camp down at Swan Barn Farm is usually not open to the general public so, we were excited to have a tour and chat with the organising team who plan the annual Wassail. 

The Wassail is an event where anyone can attend to bless the trees at Swan Barn Farm with poetry and song. The event itself begins at 6pm when the bar opens selling cider, beer, mulled cider and hot chocolate served with vergetarian and meat stew. Music will begin including The Burning Glass and some young and upcoming local musicians, with a torchlit parade at around 7pm led by the Extinction Rebellion drummers. They lead residents from Hunters Base Camp along the track to the orchard at Swan Barn Farm. Once here, everyone sings, recites poems and the most ancient tree in the orchard, Old Man Apple,  is doused with cider to ask for a good harvest.

After the procession, everyone heads back to Base Camp to enjoy food, drink and more entertainment. Local musicians perform whilst everyone enjoys their food around log fires. Apples from the Swan Barn were pressed by volunteers at two pressing days in September last year and the cider was fermented at Hunter Base Camp. 

And! Let's rewind a few hours on Wassail Day to understand how much volunteers make this event so special every year!

On the day, in the morning, the team make cauldrons of beef (locally sourced of course) casserole and a vegan stew. Volunteers chop veg that has been donated by local allotment owners, and in previous years, The Co-op and Tesco. Residents bring herbs from their gardens and pulses from their kitchens. This year, the team hopes there might be donations from the new Haslemere Community Fridge too.

Volunteers also help set up the site with a gazebo and serving tables. During the event itself, residents help sell torches, and serve food at the event in shifts. Long after people have gone home, helpers stay on to clear up and tidy the site. 

To find out more, get involved or any other enquiry about this community event, email clairematthes.copse@gmail.com

The wassail takes place this year on 17th January. The timings are noted as 6pm to 10pm and it is worth noting the parade usually does not begin until 7pm/7.30pm.

Wassail song

1 Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a-wandering,
So fair to be seen.

Refrain:
Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail, too,
And God bless you, and send you
A happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.

2 We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door,
But we are neighbors’ children
Whom you have seen before. [Refrain]

3 Good Master and good Mistress,
As you sit by the fire,
Pray think of us poor children
Who wander in the mire. [Refrain]

4 We have a little purse made
Of ratching leather skin;
We want some of your small change
To line it well within. [Refrain]

5 Bring us out a table,
And spread it with a cloth;
Bring us a moldy cheese and
Some of your Christmas loaf. [Refrain]

6 God bless the master of this house,
Likewise the mistress, too;
And all the little children
That round the table go. [Refrain]