Salisbury Christmas Tree Festival Marks Two Decades

A Christmas tree festival, recognized as one of the longest-running in the UK, is commemorating its 20th anniversary. This year’s event features an unprecedented number of decorated evergreens. Held at St Thomas’s Church in Salisbury, Wiltshire, the festival draws thousands of attendees, with 12,000 visitors recorded last year. Since its establishment, the initiative has generated an estimated £250,000 for various charitable causes. For the current year, 104 Christmas trees have been adorned by community groups. Peter Horwood, the event’s organiser, stated, “It’s about emphasising the most positive aspects of Christmas – sharing, caring, the beauty of it, and community.” Local charities, community groups, clubs, care homes, and schools are responsible for decorating, and in some instances, constructing the trees entirely. A key focus is placed on the repurposing of materials and the development of trees around specific thematic messages. Examples of this creativity include the local foodbank’s tree, fashioned from old cutlery and topped with a star made from cookie cutters. Similarly, a school created a tree shape by disassembling an old bed and utilizing its wood. In addition to the tree displays, attendees can experience a musical program featuring continuous performances by choirs and musicians. Although the decorated trees symbolize numerous causes, the festival annually selects specific charities to benefit from the donations collected from visitors. For the current year, the chosen beneficiaries are Morning Star Salisbury, an organization assisting rough sleepers and individuals facing addiction, and the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) debt centre, also located in Salisbury. Charlotte Bell, representing CAP, commented on their display: “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.” She further explained, “The bigger butterflies were made by volunteers.” Bell concluded, “It really is that journey of transformation, of being trapped in debt and into the freedom of being debt-free.” Morning Star constructed its tree using old pallet wood, incorporating the theme of the Silent Night carol. Rev Canon Kelvin Inglis remarked, “It’s an event for the wider community.” He continued, “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 is scheduled to conclude on 8 December.