By Geoff Fisher 
Reepham is holding its fifth Christmas Tree Festival in St Mary’s, Reepham, from 3–7 December. The event is organised by Reepham Lions Club and features 26 beautifully decorated trees sponsored by local businesses and organisations.
The festival is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday December from 10 am – 4.30 pm, then on Saturday from 10 am – 8 pm as part of the Christmas in Reepham celebrations. On Sunday it will continue after the morning service, from 12 midday until 5 pm.
The festival was opened at a launch event on Tuesday 2 December where sponsors, decorators, volunteers and Lions Club members took part in a switch-on countdown. Reepham Lions president Kevin Long thanked everyone for their involvement in making it a successful community event.
Visitors have the opportunity to vote for their favourite tree but it may be a difficult choice – the tree decorations include a wide range of imaginative creations.
The local dental surgery’s tree features toothbrushes, mini-tubes of toothpaste and interdental picks, while the optician’s tree sports tinsel-covered spectacles and paper baubles with interesting facts about eyes.
The tree decorated for Breast Cancer Awareness by the Breast Screening Unit at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital features pink ribbons and baubles made to look like breasts.
The local primary school children decorated their tree with notes and pictures about people who have inspired them, while the Scout Group’s cubs used little felt cubs and scout badges.
Reepham Country Market, which is held each Wednesday morning in the town, called their tree “Cook, Craft, Grow” and decorated it with crafted versions of their produce.
Reepham WI’s craft group created beautiful red and white Scandi birds for their tree, and the local community hub, the Bircham Centre, made decorations depicting the activities that take place there.
Entry to the festival is free of charge, but visitors are invited to give a donation. Profits from the event are shared between Reepham Lions Club and St Mary’s.
Photos: Reepham Lions