St Eustachius’ Church is a glorious blaze of colour and light after being transformed into a mini-indoor festive woodland, writes Guy Boswell.

The popular Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival, which opens tomorrow (Friday) at the town centre parish church, promises to be truly magical.

Organised by the Friends of St Eustachius’, it is being lit up by the imaginations of schools, businesses, charities and public bodies who all contributed their own themed trees.

The 66 dressed trees are very creative and include a fearsome dragon costume from Tavistock Musical Theatre Company inspired by its recent pantomime Aladdin and the Original Pasty House’s tree with small model pasties suspended from the branches. West Devon Borough Council’s tree, meanwhile, showcases its work in mini-tableaux in snow globe style decorations.

Whitchurch WI are rightly proud of their tree, adorned with knitted Santas and Angelina the angel on the top. Lucinda Baines and Fenella Haffenden organised all the knitters.

Lucinda said: “Many of us have been knitting since January. This is the first tree we’ve entered and we’re proud of everyone’s efforts.”

Unusually, gorse hangs from the Dartmoor Llama Walks company tree which also features named faces of the llamas.

Scarlett Moon said: “The gorse is a favourite snack of our llamas and we think it looks colourful. We’re in the festival to say thank you to the community for supporting our new venture.”

Duke’s Cafe tree features knitted mugs of hot drinks, many knitted by staff member Vicky Piper’s mother Heather who died earlier this year.

Staff member Julie Turnock said: “The tree is a tribute to Vicky’s mum with all her clever knitted drinks.”

Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival runs from tomorrow afternoon in St Eustachius’ Church (November 29) until Sunday, December 8 between the following times: Friday, November 29, 2.30pm-4.30pm; Sunday, December 1, 11am-4.30pm; Wednesday, December 4, 11am-4.30pm; Friday, December 6, 10am-9.30pm (Dickensian Evening); Sunday, December 8. 11am-4.30pm All other days: 10am-4.30pm.

St Paul's Church, Gulworthy at Tavistock Christmas tree Festival themed after the film It's a Wonderful Life - hung with angel wings
St Paul's Church, Gulworthy created this tree for the festival inspired by the film ‘It's a Wonderful Life’ hung with angel wings (Tindle)
Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival - Eustachius' Church contribution with XXX
St Eustachius' Church’s own tree, being decorated by Sarah Pendle (Tindle)
Tavistock Dementia Alliance creation at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival with Holly Stirling and Amanda Bowen.
Tavistock Dementia Alliance’s creation for the tree festival,l with Holly Stirling and Amanda Bowen. (Tindle)
Springhill Special Dental Centre at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival with Ashleigh and Freya.
Springhill Special Dental Centre at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival with Ashleigh and Freya. (Tindle)
The Original Pasty House at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival hung with pasty model.
The Original Pasty House’s tree featured pasty decorations. (Tindle)
Soft Touch Needlework Ltd at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival.
Soft Touch Needlework’s tree featured knitted decorations (Tindle)
Tavistock College tree at the Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival has a fox theme.
Tavistock College’s tree has a fox theme (Tindle)
West Devon Borough Council at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival
West Devon Borough Council’s baubles featured scenes of their work (Tindle)
Duke's Cafe' at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival with owner Simon Renshaw (cafe owner) decorating with staff Carla Bumford (pictured) and Julie Turnock.
Duke's Cafe' at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival with owner Simon Renshaw (cafe owner) decorating with staff Carla Bumford (pictured) and Julie Turnock. (Tindle)
A roaring success with Tavistock Lions at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival
A roaring success for Tavistock Lions with their tree (Tindle)
Laura Warne decorates the Girl Guides Tavistock Division tree at Tavistock Christmas Tree.
Laura Warne decorates the Girl Guides Tavistock Division tree. (Tindle)
Breathing fire on the Tavistock Musical Theatre Company tree at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival. Julian Bennett and elf Paula Smith decorate.
Breathing fire on the Tavistock Musical Theatre Company tree. Julian Bennett and elf Paula Smith decorate. (Tindle)
Debbie Duke and Scarlett Moon of Dartmoor Llama Walks at Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival.
Debbie Duke and Scarlett Moon of Dartmoor Llama Walks (Tindle)