15th Christmas Tree Festival at St Martin’s Church
St Martins 15th Christmas tree festival
Saturday 9th 10 – 3pm
Sunday 10th 11 – 2.30pm
Songs of praise service 3.00pm
Monday 10 – 3pm
Raffle and refreshments available
Free entry
St Martins Church St Alfreton DE557AH
ST MARTIN OF TOURS CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL DECEMBER 9-11, 2023
Dear Festival Exhibitor,
We at St Martins Church will be holding our Christmas tree Festival from Saturday 9th to Monday 11th December 2023.
This year you are welcome to promote your school/ business/ organisation or individual by either decorating a tree with your own unique identity or alternatively you could “create a crib” or “make a manger”. These could be traditional, contemporary, recycled, inspired by art or technology or follow a theme/campaign you are working on.
We would love to see our local schools/ organisations individuals participate in this wonderful community event at a special time of year by displaying their work and demonstrating the inspiration of their students of all ages and abilities or to advertise their campaigns or products of the local charities or businesses.
Please complete the paperwork and return to
Thank you
Claire Dyson
info@techniquecomposites.co.uk
ST MARTIN OF TOURS CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXHIBITORS
Dear Festival Exhibitor,
We are delighted that you are taking part in our Tree Festival. This letter gives further details.
****PLEASE SEND THE ATTACHED REPLY FORM TO CLAIRE DYSON ***
Your tree may be fresh or artificial and can be any size. You must provide a suitable stable base/tree stand or container. Buckets are not permitted (they easily tip over).
Lights are optional, but only ONE socket will be available for every tree. You may have up to 80 lights (100 if LED) that should be in good working order and connected to a plug fitted with a 3-amp fuse. You may include as many battery operated lights as you want but please put the switch where we can see it to turn it on and off. Decorations and lights must be securely fastened. Musical lights and lighted candles cannot be included in the decorations. We reserve the right to check and make safe all electrical systems. Please do not use glitter on your tree as this is extremely hard to remove from the church.
While we shall take all reasonable care of trees, we cannot be held responsible for any mishap to your tree during the festival.
Please give your tree a suitable title for publication in the programme and for labelling, which we shall carry out.
You will be able to decorate your tree at certain times on, Tuesday to Friday 9th December. Please indicate your preferred time on the accompanying form.
Please remove your tree from the church on Tuesday 12th December between 11am and 3pm. Please let me know if you are only able to remove your tree in the evening. We reserve the right to dispose of any trees left in the church after that time
We hope once again that our Festival will be an occasion that will provide much pleasure and happiness to you and all those who visit our lovely church.
Thank you for your support, creativity and hard work.
Yours very sincerely
Claire Dyson
Festival Coordinator
oR info@techniquecomposites.co.uk
15th Christmas Tree Festival at St Martin’s Church
We are planning for general viewing on Saturday 10-3pm, Sunday 11 -2.30pm songs of praise service 3.00pm, and Monday from 10am to 3pm for schools. This year the Admission is FREE! (We do ask that an adult accompany children under 12.)
Refreshments will be available during the Festival and light lunches will be available from 12 to 2pm. There will also be a Raffle.
The format of the Festival is that individuals, churches schools, families, local groups, community organisations, and businesses are invited to provide and decorate a Christmas tree to be on display in the church over the weekend and on the Monday when several schools bring their students to enjoy the decorated trees.
You can decorate your tree to illustrate a theme of your choice. Every tree can carry lights although we only provide 1 socket per tree. Trees may be fresh or artificial.
This year we are also inviting groups to make/ decorate a nativity set/scene this can be made from anything e.g. knitting or cardboard or pottery and can be any size within reason. Please can you let me know the approximate size in order to provide adequate space to display the items.
We hope that all who enjoyed our Flower Festivals and our previous Christmas Tree Festivals will want to participate this year and make it another special event for our community.
We do hope you will want to decorate a tree for the Festival. Please would you indicate if you wish to do so, either by returning the reply form to: Claire Dyson at 148 Mansfield Road, Alfreton, DE55 7JQ or by email to info@techniquecomposites.co.uk with the same information. If you have any questions please do telephone me at 01773 441880
You, your family and friends are warmly invited to attend the traditional service of songs of praise on Sunday at 4:00pm.
Yours sincerely,
Claire Dyson, Festival Coordinator
Additional Information
Christmas Lights Switch On
If you would like to book a stall at the Christmas Lights Switch On please complete and return the attached booking form along with the appropriate forms.
Additional Information
Amber Valley Borough Council is set to launch a new Members’ Community Grants Scheme, designed to provide a funding boost to the people and groups making a difference in their neighbourhoods.
Starting next month, each borough councillor will be able to award up to £500 per year in small grants, helping to fund one-off purchases, events or activities that benefit local residents.
Individual grants of up to £100 will be available, giving councillors the opportunity to directly support worthwhile initiatives in their wards.
The scheme is all about offering quick, targeted support where it’s needed most.
Whether it’s helping a volunteer group buy equipment, funding a small community event, or supporting a project that brings people together, these grants aim to create a positive local impact without the need for large-scale funding applications.
The Members’ Community Grants Scheme will run from April 2025 until March 2027, covering the next two financial years.
Councillor Chris Emmas-Williams, Leader of Amber Valley Borough Council, said: “This scheme is a fantastic way for our councillors to connect with their communities and help get small but meaningful projects off the ground. Often, it’s these modest amounts of funding that can make the biggest difference. I’m really looking forward to seeing the ideas that come forward and working with our members to support them.”
To be eligible, grants must support a project or activity that benefits the local community and takes place within Amber Valley.
Funding should be spent within three months of being received, unless agreed otherwise, and applicants are encouraged to use local suppliers wherever possible.
Full details about the scheme are due to be finalised at the next cabinet meeting on 2 April 2025, after which community groups or individuals with a great idea or specific need will be encouraged to contact their local borough councillor for information on how to make an application.
Residents can find their local borough councillor on the council’s website at https://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/councillors
