The entries will be automatically entered into a competition to find the most popular of the decorated trees, as voted for by visitors to the Festival. Vote tokens cost just £1 and can be purchased throughout the Festival from cathedral staff and volunteers.

The Festival will not only help us to prepare to celebrate Advent and Christmas, the initiative will also help raise vital funds for the cathedral’s East End Appeal. To date this Appeal has raised £3.2 million of its £3.7 million target and work continues on the restoration of the Herkenrode glass, due for reinstallation in the Lady Chapel in 2015.

The living trees have been generously provided by the Forestry Commission. After the Festival the Forestry Commission will kindly donate 10 trees to local charities. Decorators will have the opportunity to buy their tree from the Forestry Commission and the remaining trees will be returned to the Forestry Commission for sale in their Christmas tree sales centre at Birches Valley on Cannock Chase. For more information about the Forestry Commission please visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk/christmas

The Very Rev’d Adrian Dorber enthused: “We are delighted to host this new venture timed to co-incide with the switch-on of Lichfield’s Christmas lights and to provide visitors with another good reason to come and spend time in our city. We are looking forward to seeing the ingenuity of all who have sponsored and decorated a tree and the display of nativity sets. It should be a splendid four days in the cathedral. Come and see!”

The display will be open to the public from 22 – 25 November. Display times* will be from 10:00 until 17:00 from Thursday 22 November to Saturday 24 November, 18:30 to 20:30 on Thursday 22 November to coincide with Lichfield’s festive light switch-on, and also from 12 noon to 15:00 on Sunday 25 November. Entrance is free but donations are very welcome.

The weekend will also feature floral demonstrations from the cathedral’s very own Flower Guild, who have been creating stunning arrangements in the cathedral for approximately 30 years. The demonstrations will include floristry tips to help you get creative this Christmas. These free demonstrations will take place on Thursday 22, Friday 23 and Saturday 24 November at 11am and again at 2.30pm. Entrance is free.

For more information please call the cathedral reception on 01543 306100.

*Please note that display opening times are subject to change without notice.

For more information about the Tree Festival or the East End Appeal please contact: Judith Ayton, Fundraising Officer at Lichfield Cathedral 01543 306106 / judith.ayton@lichfield-cathedral.org