NEXT week the Methodist Centre in the middle of Bromsgrove will be opening its doors to an entire forest of Christmas trees decorated by volunteers.

The trees will all be there as part of a Christmas Tree Festival which has been organised to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Anyone can enter a tree into the festival, and entries will be accepted from individuals, community groups, charities, families, schools and local businesses in the hope of filling the centre for five days.

Today is the final day to enter a tree, and all people have to do to submit an entry is call organiser Sarah Stanhope on 07771 541412 or write to belly144@btinternet.com. There’s no charge for entering a tree, but the trees do have to be delivered to the Methodist Centre by 4pm on Tuesday, December 17 in plenty of time for the festival.

The theme for the festival is ‘Christmas Carols’, and real trees are welcome to take part, although organisers are also happy to accept trees made from anything from wrapping paper and glitter to edible trees, the more imaginative the better.

The Christmas Tree Festival is taking place over five days from Wednesday, December 18 to Sunday, December 22, and it will be open to the public every day from 10am to 2pm at Bromsgrove Methodist Centre on Stratford Road.

Visitors will also have the chance to enjoy a coffee and a mince pie after they've had a good look at all the trees, and hopefully enjoy some carol singing from one of the community choirs performing at the site over the five days.

The trees are being judged in four categories: individuals under 17 and over 16, and groups under 17 and over 16, and the winner will be announced on the final day of the festival