Inside Salisbury: Wassailing and orchards - a celebration
Salisbury to be that little bit greener thanks to King Charles III
A GOVERNMENT grant worth thousands of pounds is to benefit some areas of Salisbury.
Wiltshire Council received £50,000 for its Coronation Living Heritage Fund project which aims to develop green skills and create a minimum of 20 community orchards throughout the county.
The fund has supported the purchase of trees, protection measures and establishment costs, as well as a commemorative wooden monolith for the orchards for those that want it, made by a Wiltshire sign-maker celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III.
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Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dominic Muns, said: “This exciting project really has captured the imagination of those involved. Not only will orchards be planted that will help to enhance Wiltshire’s beautiful environment for generations to come, but the project encapsulates the best of Wiltshire and its communities, leaving a lasting legacy.
“We really see these new orchards as being hubs for the community and there is no greater fitting tribute to mark the Coronation of King Charles III. My thanks go to everyone for their enthusiasm and commitment to making this a success.”
Some orchards are already being planted and other orchards will follow. Wassailing events are taking place across the county to celebrate the new orchards.
New Wiltshire-focussed wassailing songs (to ward off bad spirits from the orchards whilst also pleasing the spirits of the fruit trees) have been written to mark the occasion. Wassailing refers to the ancient custom of visiting orchards in cider-producing reciting incantations and singing to the trees to promote a good harvest for the coming year.
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Wiltshire has a combined tree canopy coverage of 14% but this needs to increase to meet National Government targets and to meet the council’s commitments as set out in its Climate strategy and Green and Blue infrastructure strategy.
The following sites have been named for Salisbury and surrounding areas:
Bemerton Heath Pinewood Community Garden.
Planting and wassail will take place on January, 24.
Bishopstone Parish Council (planting complete)
Downton Parish Council (four planting sites, planting on 26 January 2025 (Cemetery)
27 January 2025 (Charlton All Saints) 31 January 2025 (Memorial Gardens) Saturday/Sunday 1/2 February 2025 (Beacon Orchard)
Tisbury Town Council (extension to existing orchard)
Coombe House School, Donhead St Mary (planting complete)
Rise 61 Community Garden, Bemerton Heath, Salisbury
Alderbury Parish Council - awaiting sign-off
More information about the locations of the orchards can be found here
To find out more about a new or existing orchard, get involved or to receive the words, sheet music or music to the new wassails, contact GAPS@wiltshire.gov.uk.
The project is being overseen by the council’s Grant Application and Planting Support (GAPS) team which was set up with funding from the Forestry Commission's Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund. More information about the team can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/trees-and-woodland-in-wiltshire.
