Wild Spirit Woods Wassail!
 
Come join us to bless the land and trees at Wild Spirit Woods, a hidden haven near Congleton.  A lovely opportunity to show our gratitude for trees and our wild world and a very merry uplifting way to begin your year!
 
What Can We Expect?
We will meet on the gravel by the entrance and make our way to the orchard meadow and fire. We will gather around the fire and then process around the young meadow saplings making merry with plenty of noise. Then we will sing to the trees a Wassailing song and gift an offering of traditional wassail drink and bread.
 
Afterwards you are invited to walk with us down to the tipi where there will be a big toasty fire lit, hot drinks including a non-alcoholic version of a traditional Wassail drink, and snacks.
 
Historian/archaeologist, and Ancient and Sacred Trees founder, Amanda Claire will present a short talk about how this tradition ties in with those of Europe. We will look at traditional costumes and ‘rough music’. There will be a small collection of traditional European bells as well as an English medieval bell 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.
 
What Do We Need To Bring?
This is a community event so please bring your drums, bells and pots and pans!
Dressing up in greenery or as animals also very welcome! Think Green Man, horns, sheepskins/fakefur and more!
Please bring torches and lanterns to light your way.
Please wear clothing and footwear appropriate to the season and outdoor location.
A log for the fire would be appreciated if you have one.
 
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 and indoor shoes.
 
Accessibility
The site is in open countryside, the meadow is rough ground with uncut grass, saplings, plants and boggy patches. The path to the tipi is covered in bark chip and down a hill.
 
This is event is free but BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL!  A hat will be passed around for donations to raise funds for Wild Spirit Woods and tree planting and protection in UK and Tropics with volunteer run not for profit community Ancient and Sacred Trees.
 
There is a small gravel area for which carparking for disabilities takes priority otherwise you will park and walk up the hill. Location details will be provided upon your place being booked along with any further information.