Britain's largest Christmas tree festival leaves locals 'breathless' as community bands together

Community groups, schools, businesses and charities each trim a tree displayed along the Minster's walls, showcasing unique and creative decorations, with some trees telling specific stories or raising awareness for local causes.

Bob Farley, Co-Ordinator of the Beverley Christmas Tree Festival, said: "Entering the building, the first thing you'll be aware of is this strong scent of pine, because these are all England-grown trees.

"The way in which the trees are laid out in the Minister in a one-way system, it just allows you to detach yourself and come to this festival.

"If there was snow, it would be really good, but this is the winter wonderland indoors, which we're grateful for."

From pinecones to paper chains, and angels to alpacas, each tree has its own theme, designed and decorated by the community.

Dave and Karen Stead fundraise for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young after their son Jono died of an undiagnosed heart condition in 2022.

Speaking to GB News as the couple were putting the final decorations on their tree at Beverley Minster, Dave Stead said: "The charity is aimed at looking at the causes of sudden cardiac death in young people and one of the things they do as well is provide a national heart screening process.

"We lost our son almost three years ago and on the back of that we decided to start and raise money.

"He was 27 and had no symptoms at all, which is quite typical. 80 per cent of the deaths that happen have no symptoms, no warning whatsoever.

"So obviously getting awareness out is a big issue for us locally and the charity nationally in general."

Jayne Beck was also at Beverley Minster decorating a tree for Hull and East Riding Breast Friends, a local breast cancer charity.

It offers a range of services from monthly coffee mornings, Pink Pamper Days, a Wig Bank and Bra Bank, as well as running a Breast Awareness Campaign and the Buddleia Therapy Service.

"The charity is celebrating its 20th anniversary and we've just been awarded the King's Award for Voluntary Service, which is a huge honour," said Jayne Beck, Charity Manager of Hull and East Riding Breast Friends.

"I've been with the charity for over 10 years and they've put up a tree for the Christmas Tree Festival every year since I've been there and I believe a year or two before that as well, so we're quite old hat at this.

"We have a different theme every year, decided upon by the volunteers, and they make all the decorations.

"This Christmas Tree Festival just sets Christmas off and as soon as you walk in and see all the trees decorated, it just gives you that Christmas wow factor, it's wonderful."

As well as promoting local causes, the festival is also a huge boost for trade in Beverley.

Julian Minshall, Owner of Just Beverley, sponsored a tree for the Beverley business, Islay Bloom, a boutique and interiors store.

He said: "We're fortunate to have the Minster and such a beautiful place in Beverley. Naturally, the Minster attracts attention nationwide and worldwide and when you put on a festival like this, it brings people in.

"Everyone in retail and the independents rely on the Christmas build-up for a lot of their turnover, so when you've got something like the Minster putting on this festival, it just makes a massive difference to Beverley, to hospitality, to the independent shops and people come back time and time again.

"This event caps off the year."

Visitors to the Beverley Christmas Tree Festival told GB News that the event had got them into the Christmas spirit.

Clive Skinner said: "It's so nice to see all the community involved and all the different people they represent, it's absolutely marvellous."

Linda Parker said: "It's lovely, it's so beautiful, it's such a lovely sight when you get in."

Raymond George said: "It's stunning, there's no other word. I walked in and it's just taken my breath away."

Sue said: "I've come quite a long way really [on a coach trip from Kent] and it's beautiful, it looks absolutely lovely here - I think they're doing a wonderful job with all the trees."

The last chance to visit the event is this weekend, with all funds raised going towards the upkeep of Beverley Minster.

For more information on the Beverley Christmas Tree Festival, click HERE.

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