Old Twelfth Night & Wassailing The Orchard

As far as we're aware our Fenland orchard was first wassailed in  2016, it was done later in the year then but the traditional day for the  Wassailing of orchards is Old Twelfth Night. 

Bread is hung in the trees and a libation of cider poured at the roots, shots fired through the branches and much noise made by the banging of pots and pans this is said to ward off evil spirits and encourage the apple trees into growth. 

Old Apple Tree, we Wassail thee

and hope that thou will bear

Hats full, caps full ,three-bushel bags full 

and a little heap under the stair.
 Hip Hip Hooray 

(Old Twelfth Night, 17th January, how come?

It's all to do with the change from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar in 1752 which resulted in the loss of 11 days with September 2nd being  followed by September 14th. There were huge protests and many folk refused to follow the new calendar.)

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Open 10-4 daily 

Fieldfare in The Orchard

We have flocks of visiting Fieldfare in the orchard and luckily for customers they can currently be seen swooping across the green between trees from the tea room windows.

These wonderful birds, members of the Thrush family, visit us from Scandinavia each winter to feast upon our fallen apples. We're very lucky to see so many Fieldfare, Turdis pilaris, as they are an endangered bird being on the red list for UK conservation concerns which means that they are a species that require urgent conservation. 

Fieldfare will stay in the orchard throughout the winter, as long as there are apples for them to eat, before returning to Scandinavia around April time.

Be sure to visit us soon so you don't miss out on this wonderful sight.

Open 10-4 daily 

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

(First pic not ours, the other two are, credit https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:N_p_holmes)

New Year New Art at The Orchard

We have an eclectic mix for January 2018 Art at The Orchard consisting of paintings by local artists

Gill Repper

and

Esther Marshall

who have both exhibited in our tea room before.

And for something completely different we have 

wooden items from The WoodWitch

designed and made by husband and wife team Wayne and Rosemary Ladeja using reclaimed wood.

Open 10-4 daily throughout January

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Christmas Wreath Workshop Saturday 16th December

This Saturday we have a Christmas wreath workshop here at The Orchard Tea Room, Wisbech.

Your tutor is qualified florist Mel Tomlinson who will demonstrate how to make your own wreath and guide you through the process as you make your own. All materials are included in the price which includes coffee, or tea, and mince pies.

Price £18 ~ Proceeds go to The Sunshine Centre for Therapeutic Riding

Tickets are via Paypal mel@meltomlinsonequestrian.co.uk selecting friends & family option and put your name in the comments section.

Further details or to ask a question please visit The Sunshine Centre for Therapeutic Riding FB page

Art at The Orchard ~ Happy Apples A Print Exhibition by Julie Parker ~ October 2017

We're absolutely delighted to welcome illustrator Julie Parker back to The Orchard with a brand new print exhibition "Happy Apples".

Julie has been having annual exhibitions here at The Orchard since 2014. In fact Julie Parker was the very first artist to exhibit her art in our tea room and we love to see her quirky characters decorating our walls.

Open 10-4 daily throughout October

Happy Apples

A Print Exhibition

By Illustrator Julie Parker 

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Apple Strudel from Austria ~ Recipe

We're happy to share this genuine Austrian family recipe for apple strudel given to us by one of our lovely customers:

Dough:

7ozs sifted flour
1 egg lightly beaten
1 tablespoon oil
Pinch of salt
Roughly 3ozs (1/3 cup) of water

Knead until silky, let rest for 30 minutes, roll out SUPER THIN.

Filling:

Mix
6 apples chopped
Cinnamon & sugar
Raisins

Put cloth on work surface
Baste dough with melted butter
Cover 2/3 of dough with apple filling & roll into strudle
Fold sides of dough over filling put rolled apple strudel into a casserole dish, baste with melted butter again & bake on 200 deg C for 10 minutes

Mix 1/8L milk with vanilla sugar & pour over apple strudel ~ back into oven for 19 minutes.

EAT WARM !

Art at The Orchard interview with photographers Gail & Ian Edrupt of Edrupt Photography

We're delighted that Gail and Ian of Edrupt Photography have agreed to do a little interview for the blog, they're exhibiting a range of their photographs here at The Orchard this June.

Please tell us a bit about yourselves Gail & Ian: 

Edrupt Photography are a husband and wife team who have a real passion for photography!

We are not professionals and have no photographic qualifications between us but what we do have is a good eye for composition, quick reflexes and  a love of being out in the wild, by the coast or anywhere
interesting and seeing what we can shoot (not literally!)

We are both very different when it comes to preferred subject matter and both bring something different and unique to the table….

Ian Edrupt

… loves wildlife especially on the Broads!  Ian has been going to the Broads for over 35 years and has eagle eyes when it comes to spotting the well camouflaged and fast reflexes to get those action shots.
He is also keen on night shooting using star light and iconic shapes such as windmills and sailing boats.

Gail Edrupt

… loves the `fun, funky & creative shots. With a love of people and occasions (I love a good wedding!) architecture and interesting close up shots showing attention to detail. Her camera is never far away…

Please tell us about your work? What are you currently working on?

Photography is not our profession it's our passion and great love, we both work full time in very different fields and have very demanding jobs.  From a photography perspective we are quite busy at the moment. A few weeks ago we took the photos at a local wedding, so currently Gail is editing and creatively putting together the portfolio for the Bride & Groom (she loves post editing) and we have another wedding in August so we will soon be visiting the venues in Spalding to start preparing and planning our day for that. Ian has been working on some 'smoothing' water techniques, a particular favourite of his and looking for some more interesting locations to take night shots. It's all go!

How did you decide to become photographers?

Gail –I have been taking photos since I was a teenager with my trusty SLR by my side in the days of film,  taking pictures for my Memory Box. My brother was a very keen photographer and had his own dark room so it was something we enjoyed together.

Ian – I am relatively new to it, I got interested in photography when I met Gail six years ago.  It is something we love to do together although we enjoy very different subject matters, we compliment each other well as a team.

What's the best advice you've been given as a photographer?

Gail – prepare, prepare, prepare! I am, by my very nature an organised person and I like my equipment organised, stored, cleaned etc. and for weddings and events I like to know the what, where, who and when in plenty of time!

Ian – I like to pick up my camera and just go!  I leave the organising to Gail!

What do you do when you are not creating?

Gail – I am naturally creative and for many years I have been a keen crafter and scrapper, making cards and scrapbook albums.  I do particularly like the post editing of photos and the really creative changes you can give to a shot.

Ian – I have been playing golf since I was 16, starting as a Golf Pro Apprentice back in Basildon. Currently a 6 handicap but working on getting it lower, I play County level for the `A` team at Tydd St Giles Golf Club.

What are your life and work goals for the future? 

We want to take great photos, the very best we can - simple as that! The aspiration for us is about working hard and enjoying life, being close to family and squeezing the most out of every moment of life and of course, making sure we creatively capture those moments!

You're exhibiting some of your photography here at The Orchard during June where else can we find your work? 

This is our first exhibition so we are very new to showing our work and we would love to do more of it.  We regularly post our photos on the Facebook sites; Love The Norfolk Broads, A Place For Photos and Norfolk Photographers.  We also regularly appear on the Richardson's Boating – Norfolk Broads Facebook site and have for the last 4 years had photos published in their main brochure for their boating holidays.

Website: Currently under construction
Facebook: Edruptphotography

Many thanks to Gail & Ian of Edrupt Photography for agreeing to be interviewed for The Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop Blog. You can see their photographs throughout June, daily, 10am -4pm at

The Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop
Redmoor Lane
Wisbech
Cambs
PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184
Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room