SWAN Barn Farm in Haslemere held its annual Winter Wassail event last Friday evening.

Starting with a torch-lit procession, the night involved ‘spirit warding’, superstition and fun as a traditional wassailing ceremony was performed to banish ‘evil spirits’ from the orchards and ensure a bumper apple crop.

Pots and pans were bashed to ban the spirits and people sampled the traditional drink of the ceremony made with apples from the farm. Refreshments included Swan Barn-produced cider, apple juice and Black Down beef stew. Local band The Burning Glass played live music.

National Trust head anger for Blackdown, David Elliott, said: “What we are trying to do here at Swan Barn Farm is plant new apple trees and orchards and get people involved in community events such as this, so that the orchards have a future. It was great to see so many people at the Wassail.

“It was our most successful event yet with over 300 people and lots of families.

“We’d love to think that children in Haslemere will grow up caring for their orchards because of the fun they’ve had tonight.

“We were delighted by people’s enthusiasm and the atmosphere and want to thank everyone for coming out and bringing their good cheer on a winter’s night.”