A colourful and raucous traditional celebration to encourage apples to grow will take place in the orchard in Philips Park, Bury, later this month, and everyone is invited.

Wassailers will be making a racket to drive away bad spirits, keeping the fruit trees safe and happy on Sunday, 30^th January 1-3pm at the popular Greater Manchester park.

Wassailing is the ancient British custom of visiting your apple orchard, reciting incantations and singing to the trees. The idea is to promote a good harvest in the autumn. For Incredible Edible Prestwich and District volunteers who grow fruit, herbs and vegetables in public spaces for everyone to enjoy, it’s also a chance to get the community together and share food and drink around a nice warm fire.

The event is being organised by Incredible Edible Prestwich and District. Mark Lockwood, Incredible Edible Prestwich and District, group secretary said:  “After missing last year our popular Wassail event will be taking place again this year in the Community Orchard. This family event is a good reason to get out into the fresh air, meet other people, celebrate and encourage this year’s apple harvest by singing and making a lot of noise. Hot drinks and food will be available. There will also be an opportunity to buy honey that has been produced in Philips Park. People can come along to the event to just enjoy the Wasail and they will also have the opportunity to find out more about groups running at Philips Park and how they can get involved if interested.”

Incredible Edible Prestwich and District is part of ‘Greater Manchester Nature for Health’, one of seven national ‘green social prescribing programmes’ testing and learning how we can best connect people with nature for their mental health. The aim is to engage with individuals at risk of developing poor mental health and create the activities and support they need, whilst making the most of the natural environment.

Jenni Lea, Lancashire Wildlife Trust Nature and Wellbeing Senior Project officer says: ‘It may not always seem like it in our modern, fast paced society, but being part of the natural world is a fundamental aspect of who we are as humans. We are witnessing more and more how being disconnected from nature and that part of ourselves has detrimental effects on our health. It is inspiring to see Bury’s Social Prescribing team, nature based voluntary groups, the local community and health and social care professionals all come together to offer a non-clinical nature-based solution, responsive to individuals needs and interests as a way to tackle and prevent mental ill health.’ 

An Incredible Edible Prestwich and District volunteer, who joined the group through Green Social Prescribing, said, "I love being part of the wider Incredible Edible team, although I can't always get to their sessions I still feel part of things and I like that you can drop in whenever you can and are made to feel welcome.  Julie [Social Prescribing Link Worker] provided me with stability whilst I got myself together and helped me access mental health support, exercise and healthy living. All of these, plus being part of something I enjoy, means I feel so much better in myself."

Julie Bentley, Social Prescribing Link Worker for Prestwich says, “Connecting people to the Nature for Health project means people can access a variety of green projects and can choose which works best for them. It gives individuals a support network meaning they can build confidence, reduce anxieties and enjoy being part of a group, it means we can work on different parts of people’s lives to improve their overall health and wellbeing not just one part.”

Greater Manchester Nature for Health is being overseen and coordinated through the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership. It is funded by cross governmental departments and NHS England, Sports England and the National Academy for Social Prescribing.

The Bury Nature for Health project is led by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, working closely with Bury’s Social Prescribing team, the Bury VCFA Beacon Service. The learnings will inform the development of regional nature-based social prescribing services and national policy at the end of the two year pilot in 2023.

• Social Prescribing is the name for the process where people are referred to community groups from Health and Social Care, or other public, services, such as GPs. Social Prescribing Link Workers spend time with people to understand their wants, needs and barriers before supporting them to access appropriate community services - putting individuals in control of their own health and wellbeing.
• Green Social Prescribing uses a variety of nature-based offers for individuals to participate in, to help with social, mental health and physical health issues. There are many scientific studies exploring the link between time spent in nature and the reduced risk of mental health problems, improved mood and reduced stress. Regularly getting outdoors and actively connecting with nature helps with lowering blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, reduction in the production of stress hormones and can even boost our immune systems.
• The Bury Nature for Health project is currently focused in the Prestwich and Whitefield area with most activity around Philips Park. Partners involved initially in the project include Bury VCFA, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Friends of Philips Park, Incredible Edible Prestwich and District, Bury Greenwood group, City of Trees and Bury Council. As the project develops the hope is more local groups and services get involved.
• The partners will be creating exciting and worthwhile activities for local people who can join the project via a self-referral or a referral to the Bury VCFA Beacon Service from a GP or other health or social care professional.