THE Carhampton Community Orchard celebrated its seventh Christmas lights switch-on with about 60 villagers and visitors enjoying the opportunity to get together in a safe open space.

With last year’s Covid-19 restrictions the switch-on had to be carried out without an audience, it made this event even more special.

There was an extra air of celebration as the orchard’s damaged lights had been replaced this year with a new array of multi-coloured illuminations paid for by the year’s orchard events and put up with the generous help of Philip Farmer.

Mulled cider, hot spiced apple juice and mince pies were on offer, and this year, the orchard committee asked for donations for St Margaret’s Hospice, raising over £100 as a small compensation for the cancellation of the Dunster by Candlelight event, a key fundraiser for the hospice.

The village band, drawn from Carhampton and Blue Anchor, played carols for all to join in.

And the turn-on was not only enjoyed by local residents. A couple from London, visiting for a weekend event at Halsway Manor, were enchanted by the event, while a couple from Oxfordshire who are regular visitors to the area were delighted to find such a vibrant programme of activities, and took back information to their village, where they hope to create a community orchard of their own.

The orchard’s next event will be the traditional Wassail on Old Twelfth Night, Monday, January 17, from 6.30pm with music, refreshments, toasting the Wassail tree and shooting away the bad spirits. For more information, or to join the Orchard Friends email list, contact [email protected]