A CELEBRITY was spotted at a Herefordshire event filming for a popular BBC TV series.
Farmer and television presenter Adam Henson was seen in Longtown on January 13 alongside a Countryfile camera crew capturing footage of a traditional Herefordshire wassail, a centuries-old tree blessing ritual that is said to help promote the growth of cider apples.
Adam was first noticed mingling with the crowd that had gathered at the village hall in anticipation of the event, interviewing locals about what the ancient custom meant to them. He then took part in a torch-lit procession through the village, heading towards the ruins of Longtown Castle.
Once he reached the castle’s ramparts he was offered a cup of hot, mulled cider and joined the crowd in a circle around a small group of trees within the ruins.
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The crew filmed musicians and dancers from Foxwhelp Morris, accompanied by a hobby horse named ‘Nessy’, entertaining the crowd, with morris man Jed Dunn leading the wassail ceremony.
Cameras watched on as 12 fires were lit by the audience at the edge of the circle, symbolising the light of the sun, the 12 months of the year and possibly the disciples of Jesus Christ.
An offering of cider-soaked toast and a libation of the previous year’s cider, sourced from Gwatkins Cider in Abbey Dore, were then given to a tree in the hopes of encouraging a good yield of apples.
The Countryfile crew packed up after the ceremony concluded, whilst locals made their way back to the village hall for food, drink, music and a mummers play.
All this comes only a week after another star, well-known actress Maxine Peake, was seen attending the Leominster Morris wassail in Dilwyn.
Whilst traditionally the ritual takes place on twelfth night, there are still plenty of wassailing events in Herefordshire planned for the later half of the month, meaning locals still have a chance to attend one of these age-old ceremonies and perhaps glance a famous face or two.
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