By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-12-07 06:01:03 | Updated at 2024-12-14 01:40:32
6 days ago
One of Britain's biggest Christmas Tree Festivals is being held at Beverley Minster - and there's a story behind every bauble.
There are over 150 trimmed and twinkling fir trees on display at the medieval church.
With the trees lining nearly all the interior walls of the medieval building, it's thought to be the largest display held in a church.
Bob Farley is the Co-Ordinator of Beverley Minster Christmas Tree Festival.
There are over 150 trimmed and twinkling fir trees on display at the medieval church
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He told GB News: "The first thing you feel when you walk through the door is this scent of pine, so you feel like there's a pine forest nearby.
"Because the trees are real, they're poignant. They're all just with 100 white lights on. So there is a there's a sort of a calmness about it. There's no flashing lights, there's no coloured lights. But then people start to witness what's happening.
"One of the most important things to me is when someone says to me at the end of it, do you know what? I wasn't looking forward to Christmas, but now you've given me hope. That's what it's about."
From sunflowers to snowflakes and alpacas to angels, each tree has its own unique theme, designed and decorated by the community in Beverley and beyond.
It is a huge community event, involving schools, businesses, charities and local groups – and some have very special reasons behind their displays.
Kay Farrow is a Volunteer Event Director Beverley Westwood Parkrun.
Parkrun is held every Saturday morning at 9am across the UK, but often at other times overseas and it's a free 5K community event where participants can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.
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From sunflowers to snowflakes and alpacas to angels, each tree has its own unique theme, designed and decorated by the community in Beverley and beyond
GB News
Describing the decorations on the Beverley Westwood Parkrun Christmas tree in Beverley Minster, Kay said: "We've got volunteers and participants on the tree.
When you've done ten 25, or 50 Parkruns you can get a milestone t-shirt, so we've got milestone t shirts on the tree.
"We've got some of the little rules about dogs, one owner each on a short lead and some of the signs that people will see out on the course. So it just encapsulates everything."
John Greenwood is the Secretary of Beverley Rotary Club.
The organisation have decorated their tree with fundraising theme, as the organisation's members work in and with the local community to raise funds for charities.
"We've done it [the Beverley Minster Christmas Tree Festival] for quite a few years now and with a different theme every year, and it's a great thing to be part of. We try to help people locally raise money for good causes."
Pygmy goats also made a guest appearance outside Beverley Minster.
Bob Farley is the Co-Ordinator of Beverley Minster Christmas Tree Festival
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They are part of Therapy and Ascend, a charity which provides animal interactions for children and adults with special educational needs, as well as those suffering from mental health issues, such as anxiety.
They have a number of therapy animals including horses, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens. But at Beverley Minster, the three trainee pygmy goats were the star attraction.
Claire Raper, Owner and Facilitator of Therapony and Ascend, told GB News: "So we've got our three pygmy goats there. They're ten months old and this one is Harry, this one is Kobbie and this one is Darwin.
"They're mad, but they bring so much joy and you can just see people just smile whenever they see them, and that's the whole idea of what we do. It's just to bring that, bring that extra something into people's lives."
The Christmas Tree Festival opens its doors on Wednesday, December 4 and runs until Sunday, December 8, coinciding with the town’s huge Festival of Christmas.
Tickets for the Christmas Tree Festival are for sale on the door. They cost £5 for adults with accompanied children going free.
