Photo by Ash Mills

Salisbury Cathedral’s Christmas Tree – a 33ft Norway Spruce – was grown on the Longleat estate where trees are replanted on a cyclical basis. It takes 12 staff from the Cathedral works team to raise the tree, which weighs more than 250kg, in an operation overseen by Richard Pike, the Cathedral’s ecclesiastical joiner and Gary Price, Clerk of Works. Richard has been involved in choosing the tree, raising and decorating it for 29 years.

The tree commands the West End of  the Cathedral at the Great West Doors and is a focal point for Christmas worship and a wonderful Christmas welcome for visitors and congregations.