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Village reigniting Christmas spirit after 16 years

Lee Blakeman,BBC Radio Stokeand
Alex McIntyre,West Midlands
News imageIlka Hudson Two women standing next to each other in front of overgrown land. The woman on the left has a blonde hair, necklace, grey shirt and beige trousers. The woman on the right has blonde hair, glasses and a white t-shirt.Ilka Hudson
Clare Roberts, left, and Ilka Hudson have led the project to bring back Wolstanton's annual Christmas tree

Seeing huge Christmas trees looming over public spaces is one of the surest signs that the festive season is upon us.

But for Wolstanton in Staffordshire, that particular sight is one that has been missing since 2010, when it last had a tree on Morris Square.

Then one day in a pub during Christmas 2025, resident Clare Roberts questioned why the village no longer had one.

Fast-forward to almost 12 months later and the community is now preparing for the return of its beloved tree after a 16-year wait.

"Everybody wanted it," said Roberts, who chairs the residents' group, Wolstanton Community Christmas Project.

"We put the feelers out straight after Christmas last year and everybody got in touch. They got behind us constantly."

News imageGetty Images A close-up of a Christmas tree with yellow Christmas lights. A dim yellow glow is visible in the blurred background.Getty Images
Clare Roberts said it has been 16 years since Wolstanton had a public Christmas tree

Roberts and friend Ilka Hudson pledged to take it upon themselves to organise the festive celebration when the idea began over a few drinks.

Hudson said they founded the project right away and it had gone "from strength to strength" ever since.

"The number of people who have joined us is unbelievable," she told BBC Radio Stoke.

Asked if she was surprised at the support they had for the project, Hudson said: "I knew this community would come together.

"The support we've received, especially from local businesses – I'm not surprised at all because they're all a great bunch of people. When it really matters, they come together."

'It's just massive'

The 20ft (6m) tree the group has purchased will be erected on Morris Square and lit up during a celebration on 3 December.

The event, which will run from 17:00 to 19:00 GMT, will feature Santa, an artisan market and music.

It has grown into something Roberts did not imagine when she first came up with the idea to bring the tree back.

"I can't even say anything, I'm that excited," she added. "I can't even put it into words.

"I can't believe it's gone from just having a tree with lights, to what it's going to be on the night. It's just massive."

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