TREES were wrapped in ribbon and serenaded at the weekend to wake them up in time for the spring season.

Environmental group Abingdon Carbon Cutters hosted its annual Wassail Festival on Saturday inviting the town to help encourage a bountiful next fruit harvest.

One of the organisers, Kat Kelly, went along to celebrate the day with her six-month-old son Arthur. She said: “The traditional Wassail Festival is all about waking the trees up for the new year and decorating them.

“We brought along apple juice from last year’s harvest to show the trees what they have to do, and what is expected of them for this year’s harvest.”

The festival, at Caldecott Meadow, behind South Abingdon Children’s Centre, featured a fire pit, parade and lantern-making workshop.

Families went along from 2pm until 4.30pm and brought with them household ‘instruments’ such as pots, pans and plastic bottles to make music with.

Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers, Caldecott School choir and the Vale Islanders provided music and entertainment for the festival.