VISITORS to the National Trust’s historic Lacock Abbey are sure to be entranced this year by a community Christmas tree display.

The national charity is putting on a display of 21 Christmas trees for its annual community festival to celebrate the year end.

Volunteers from charities, schools, voluntary groups and other organisations from Lacock, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge were busy this week decorating the trees in the Abbey cloisters, made famous by the Harry Potter films.

Karen Bolger, the Trust’s

visitor experience manager at Lacock, said: “It will be a lovely experience for visitors because there will be a story behind each tree.

“It already looks beautiful, as each tree will be lit with fairy lights and we will be decorating the cloisters with greenery from the Abbey gardens.”

The community groups involved were given a theme, which this year is peace, and asked to decorate their trees.

The trust is also commemorating the centenary of the end of the First World War, in which

Lacock played its part by providing a peaceful sanctuary where injured soldiers could recuperate.

The community festival has been organised by Tom Brockington, the senior visitor experience officer at Lacock, and a team of volunteers.

The trust will locate willow sculptures and a huge Christmas tree in the Abbey courtyard, as well as another in the main hall.

The festival launched today (Thurs, Nov 29), with carol singers in the courtyard and a trail around the Abbey gardens. It will run to the end of December.

Ms Bolger said: “Lacock is a lovely backdrop and a great place for families to celebrate Christmas.”

It will open from 11am-4pm each day, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Normal admission prices apply and National Trust members have free entry.