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Christmas tree festival celebrates 20th anniversary

BBC Decorated Christmas trees lined in a row in a churchBBC
The festival attracts thousands of people and raises money for good causes

One of the UK’s longest-running Christmas tree festivals is marking its 20th anniversary with a record number of sparkling evergreens.

It attracts thousands of visitors to St Thomas’s Church in the centre of Salisbury, Wiltshire, with 12,000 people enjoying the spectacle last year.

The event has raised an estimated £250,000 for good causes since its inception and this year it has 104 Christmas trees decorated by community groups.

“It’s about emphasising the most positive aspects of Christmas - sharing, caring, the beauty of it, and community,” organiser Peter Horwood said.

Small part of a Christmas tree with laminated hanging cards showing pictures of cats and dogs
A local vet surgery has designed a tree covered in pictures of pets
An open doll's house with a Christmas theme with two smaller Christmas trees in front
Local care homes have added their own creations to the festival

The trees are decorated and sometimes made from scratch by local charities, community groups, clubs, care homes and schools.

There is a emphasis on reusing materials and making a point with particular themes.

The local foodbank has used old cutlery to make its tree, with a star constructed from cookie cutters at the top, while a school has dismantled an old bed and used the wood to make a tree shape.

Visitors can also enjoy a music programme with performances throughout the day from choirs and musicians.

A foodbank bauble hanging from a spoon, which is acting a tree branch
Salisbury Foodbank has made a tree from old cutlery
Clear Christmas baubles with red and white tape on them hanging from a Christmas tree branch
Many of the trees have food on them - these clear baubles show the contents which will be given to those in need after the festival
A knitted singing angel hanging off the branch of a stick
A lot of crafting and creativity has gone into the trees - one was covered in knitted decorations and another in specifically knitted hats.

While the trees represent many causes, each year the festival chooses charities to support with the donations it receives from visitors.

This year it is focusing on Morning Star Salisbury which helps rough sleepers and those struggling with addiction, and the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) debt centre in Salisbury.

Charlotte Bell, from CAP, said: "Our tree is entitled hope and freedom. We have 116 butterflies - the small ones - they represent each client who has gone debt free in the 10 years we've been going."

The bigger butterflies were made by volunteers.

"It really is that journey of transformation, of being trapped in debt and into the freedom of being debt-free," she added.

Morning Star made its tree from old pallet wood with a theme of the Silent Night carol.

A glittery cardboard butterfly on a tree branch with others behind it
Butterflies created by Christians Against Poverty represent freedom from debt
Strips of wood with baubles with Silent Night lyrics on, with angels made from wool
Charity Morning Star Salisbury made a tree from pallet wood and centred it around Silent Night

Rev Canon Kelvin Inglis said: "It's an event for the wider community.

"I always feel - particularly for a civic church in the centre of the city - that we're here to serve.

"We're here to support and help the people of this city in their daily living."

The festival runs until 8 December.

Reverend Kelvin Inglis in front of decorated Christmas trees in a church. He is wearing spectacles, a dark jacket, red scarf and green sweater
Rev Kelvin Inglis said the event serves the community as a whole
A section of chapel to the side of the main nave of the church with four larger trees.
Trees have been dotted around every part of the large church

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