IMAGINATIONS ran riot in Frensham when the village’s fourth Christmas Tree Festival was held at St Mary’s Church.

There were many quirky, creative and often amusing themes, and trees were very definitely not the traditional ‘tinsel and bauble’ type.

The festival attracted some 650 visitors of all ages, and there were many gasps and ‘wows’ when visitors first came into the church and saw the striking display.

Trees were variously decorated to reflect the interests of businesses and organisations, or ‘round the world’ themes, or the ever-popular ‘play-on-tree-words’.

Visitors were asked to vote for their three favourites, with the most popular being the hugely-admired Knitivitree, featuring a nativity scene and a tree decorated with lots of knitted sheep, donkeys, stars and shepherds – all skilfully hand-knitted over a period of several months by members of Millbridge WI.

In second place was the particularly poignant Frensham British Legion Tree, by James and Stephanie Stevens of the British Legion Club, and in third place the Rubber Glove(r) Tree, consisting of many inflated rubber gloves arranged in a the shape of a Christmas tree, by Liz and Harry Glover.

The most popular children’s tree was Puppetree – Brownies Round the World, by Frensham Brownies.

The other trees in the top 10 were: Plumbtree by Haytree Plumbers, Solitree by Liz Glover, Toiletree by Andrew Glover and Naomi Kerr, Poultree by Chris Haines, The Mad Hatter’s Tree Party by Sophie Lyall and Tia Cooper, Ewe Tree by Frensham and Dockenfield Local History Group.

A total of £2,228 was raised during the weekend, of which 50 per cent has been donated to the church, and 25 per cent, 15 per cent and five per cent respectively to charities nominated by the decorators of the top three trees.

Charities supported include the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and the Alzheimer’s Society. In addition five per cent will be donated to charities nominated by Frensham Brownies, decorators of the favourite children’s tree.

Visitors were also able to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes kindly donated by local businesses and individuals, the winners have been notified and a list has been posted in the village shop.

It is anticipated that the next Christmas Tree Festival will be in December 2019 – so those who decorated a tree (or didn’t and fancy doing so next time) there’s plenty of time to decide what to do.­