Ancient tradition 'to boost apple crop'

The orchard at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's headquarters is set for a bumper crop this year after a traditional wassailing of the apple trees.

Around 100 people turned out yesterday to see the dancing and singing ceremony performed by Lichfield Morris Men and Beggar's Oak Clog Dancers to encourage the trust's new orchard to grow at Wolseley Bridge, near Rugeley.

The event began with singing and dancing outside the centre before moving on to the orchard. There they lit a bonfire, sang wassailing songs to the trees and the Morris men beat the trunks.

Peter Wallis, the squire of Lichfield Morris Men, said: "The main idea to wassail the apple trees is to give a good crop of apples and it is an ancient tradition."