Weald & Downland Museum Tree Dressing

West Sussex based, Weald & Downland Open Air Museum is holding its annual Tree Dressing Event on Sunday 5th December this year. Not just a great day out with the kids, visitors can also browse around the craft market in the 15th century Crawley Hall for unusual Christmas gifts and enjoy a glass or two of mulled wine. Then, as darkness falls, a procession and spiral dance around two magnificent aspen trees decorated with hundreds of lanterns makes for a magical end to the day.

Tree Dressing has been greatly enjoyed by visitors for many years at the museum, in keeping with the museum’s aim of keeping alive the traditions of our rural past for future generations to appreciate. With its origins in the Green Man legends and other ancient customs celebrating the life-giving properties of trees and the natural world, the Tree Dressing event enables visitors to enjoy and join in traditional songs, dances, plays and stories about trees and the countryside.

With over forty-five 45 historic building exhibits dating from the 13th to the 19th century there is plenty to see at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum. Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working watermill producing wholemeal stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens, farm livestock and a working Tudor kitchen.

The museum is open from 10.30am on December 5, with the Tree Dressing event starting at 12.30pm. Admission prices are adults £9, over 60s £8.15, children £4.80, family ticket £24.75, under 5s free.

Don’t forget – if you want to make your own lantern to join in the festival remember to bring a jam jar.

For more information visit www.wealddown.co.uk