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Wassail
Made in January 2023, these documentary images are of the Chettle Wassail, a midwinter celebration of the apple trees in the orchards of this tiny rural community of just 100 people in North Dorset, UK. The project was featured by The Guardian, as part of its selection for the F22 call out on community and connection and received an Honorable Mention in the 20th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards. An image from the series will be exhibited in Fotonostrum, April 2024, Barcelona. 
About Chettle Wassail
This unique celebration was created by village community, building on old traditions and adding new, to celebrate the nature and landscape of the beautiful valley. The images are of villagers and a handful of invited guests from the surrounding area and give a private view into a joyful and strange centuries-old tradition where the ‘Head Apple’ leads a procession to honour this most special fruit and to wake up the spring-time.
Wassailing is an old (probably medieval) tradition, asking the apple trees to bear a good harvest, offering the orchards toast and song and chasing out evil spirits. There is usually singing to the health of the trees and cries of “Wassail” meaning ‘good health’. An apple wassail is also a very good reason to meet round a fire in the doldrums of midwinter and enjoy nature.
The village created a new 21st century ceremony, drawing on old folk ritual. Four brand new songs were written, inspired by the landscape around the village, and old traditional songs were learnt. The villagers made costumes, headdresses and props inspired by the nature around them– antlers for the deer, barn owls and evergreens. The ceremonial outfit for the ‘Head Apple’, was also made collaboratively by everyone.
Chettle is a really special place. There has been settlement in the valley for 6000 years, the village dates to Norman times and it’s steeped in Wessex folklore. The images explore a collective reconnection to the land and the food it produces, through celebration, ritual, gathering and culture.
An impressive roster of guest artists were invited into Chettle to help inspire this old-but-new ritual. Mercury-nominated Folk Singer and Activist Sam Lee, Human Ecologist and Artist Zoe Laureen Palmer, genre-bending classical Violinist Simmy Singh, and Choir Leader Sandie Campbell all worked alongside Dorset-based artists Lorna Rees and Adam Coshan to help collectively create the performance. The event has been beautifully documented in a film by artist, director and filmmaker Sophie Austin. The project has been produced by Chettle resident Becky Burchell.
Lead artist Lorna Rees said “as artists we’re deeply interested in how we collectively connect ourselves to the land and the food it produces, through celebrations, rituals, gatherings and culture. We wanted to help make an apple wassailing event to celebrate the trees in these orchards, but we also wanted to have a party – to wake up the spring in the bleak of midwinter.
Chettle is very special. There has been settlement in the valley for 6000 years, the village dates to Norman times and it’s steeped in Wessex folklore. There’s also something of the disco about the place – many of the inhabitants have worked on large-scale music festivals and raves, or else they are artists, growers and incredible craftspeople with a deep connection to the land. I think that’s what makes Jayne’s magical images quite so special.”
Two whole-day workshops with the local Sixpenny Handley First School also allowed the artists to share the songs (new and old), the traditions, history, folklore and culture around wassailing with the next generation..
© Jayne Jackson @jaynejacksonphotography 
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