Wild Spirit Woods Congleton Wassail! 
Minimum donation £6.  (Kids £3) Time To Be Confirmed 
Ticket includes food but guarantee you get some you MUST book by Tuesday 2Oth Jan. 
 
Owd Bear Meets Mercian Mari Lwyd!
This year we are delighted that our friend and druid Simon Cottril will be bringing Mercian Mari Lwyd to support our fundraiser. 
 
Join us to bless the land and trees at Wild Spirit Woods.  Let's show our gratitude for our wild world and a very merry uplifting way to begin your year!
 
What Can You Expect?
A merry band of revellers (including you)  dressed in wild attire. (Think bears, Krampus, Green Man, fancy hats and greenery!).
 
We will process around making merry with a great hullabaloo. Then we will sing to the trees a Wassailing song and gift an offering of traditional wassail drink and bread.
 
Afterwards we will parade down to the tipi where there will be a big toasty fire, hot potatoes,  vegetarian soup and roll and hot drinks. A traditional Wassail cup will be served along with a non alcoholic version.
 
Later historian/archaeologist, and Ancient and Sacred Trees founder, Amanda Claire might present a short talk about how this tradition ties in with those of Europe.
 
There will be a small exhibition of traditional old European bells for you to look at and handle. ‘Congleton Bell Belt Day’ and its’ artefacts will also be discussed in this context too.
 
If people are in the mood we might even have some storytelling and maybe some special ‘bell’ sound healing too.
 
The fire will be lit in the tipi and we can stay on for chat and music around the campfire. 
 
More details about this event to be released soon. 
UPDATE see underneath ... following details
 
What Do We Need To Bring?
This is a communiTree event so please bring your drums, bells and pots and pans!
Dressing up in greenery or as animals! Think Green Man, Bears, Krampus, fancy hats, greeney, horns, sheepskins/fake fur and more!
Please bring torches and lanterns to light your way later.
Please wear clothing and footwear appropriate to the season and outdoor location.
A log for the fire would be appreciated if you have one.
Need some inspiration? Check this link out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nTQnM0GWR0 or this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmfQqyXHAeI 
 
Community
This is an inclusive space, all are welcome. (If you are autistic you might like to bring noise cancelling headphones). The tipi has plenty of chairs and there will be a fire lit. Please bring a rug .
Friendly dogs welcome BUT please be aware of the noise!
 
Accessibility
The site is in open countryside, the meadow is rough ground with uncut grass, trees, saplings, plants and boggy patches. The path to the tipi is covered in bark chip and down a hill. 
 
This is event is by donation but a deposit of £6 is required per person.  Our donations box will be out to raise funds for our volunteer conservation activities and site insurance. Wild Spirit Woods CIC is disability led and volunteer run. 
 
IMPORTANT!!
There is a small gravel area for which car parking is £2 per car or £4 per van. Or you can park at the bottom of the hill. Make sure you buy a parking ticket if you need one or you will have to park down the hill! PLEASE CAR SHARE! Push Bikes FREE!
 
Location details will be provided upon your place being booked along with any further information.
 
IF the weather turns then this event will be moved to the following Saturday in the event of snow or gale force winds
 
ITINERARY UPDATE - Approximate...
 
Wassail! A Wild Spirited Land and Tree Blessing Itinerary
Are You Readyyyyyy?!
ALL attending MUST book tickets. (Food deadline Tuesday 20th Jan)
Welcome!
• 3pm gates open
• You are welcome to take a look around the site
• Mini exhibition about our founders’ animal bell collection (featuring in our Wassail) in the tipi
• Learn about the ancient tradition Congleton Bell Belt Day and how Beartown history goes back further than bear baiting
• Site story and display
• Hot & cold drinks available
• Mari Lywd workshop. Make your very own welsh Mari Lwyd. A skeleton hobby horse especially associated with Welsh folklore and fertility.
Procession
• Procession from the tipi up the hill and around the site
• Gather by the big bench & stone circle for bonfire lighting, ‘saining’ and Bell ringing dance
• Journey on to our Blessing Tree to give thanks gifting bread, birdseed and pouring a Wassail libation.
• Procession downhill down the hill to the tipi.
In The Tipi After the Procession
• Baked potatoes (marg or butter), hot soup (veggie) & bread, plus drinks (soymilk option) around the fire (To guarantee food you MUST book at least 3 days beforehand)
• The grand Wassail Toast!
• Communal story telling for all ages – will YOU take a starring role?
• Learn about Bear and their remarkable part in ancient fertility rituals from Japan, through Eurasia across to the Americas.
• Music and friendship by the fire…
Accessibility
• We will have an awning outside the tipi as a quieter space with chairs
• Although a few lanterns will be dotted about you MUST bring torches and lights
• Please wear sensible footwear for our rural off grid site
• We will provide a few rugs for in the tipi for those who may feel the cold
• If you are Autistic, and/or have sensory sensitivities, you may need your headphones to wear for the drumming and bellringing
• There are chairs half way down/up the hill on the procession route to sit and rest if you struggle with the walk
• Open from 3pm so you can check out the site in daylight
Please park mindfully and quick walk up the hill. Car parking on site MUST be booked in advance & is very strictly limited.
Get your costumes, fancy hats, bells, drums, pots n pans at the ready!!!
 
Remember if you want the food and drink element you MUST book at least 3 days in advance AT Latest! Tuesday 20th to guarantee your nosh. This is a volunteer run event so thank you for your understanding.