I have just noticed that there will be a Wassail at Ryton mid January to spur the orchard into supplying a bumper crop of fruit! They start by placeing pieces of toast (that have been dipped in a special fermented apple juice) onto the branches. Might be worth a visit (and there will be an opportunity to sample some of their fermented apple juice).
Anyone else interested in going? 16th January - tis a Sunday. http://www.hdra.org.uk/news/news_topic.php?id=85
If your fruit trees didn't do well this year, you know why if you didn't do wassailing!