Festival of Trees returns with new online twist

Francis House Festival of Trees returns to Quayside MediaCityUK

Festival of Trees

Francis House Festival of Trees at Quayside MediaCityUK

The 14th annual Francis House Festival of Trees returns to Quayside MediaCityUK and opens briefly to the public from Tuesday 3 November until new lockdown measures come into effect on 5 November.

For the past few weeks’ organisations, community groups and individuals have been busy decorating 32 unique Christmas trees packed with must-have gifts and vouchers all in aid of Francis House Children’s Hospice.

Traditionally shoppers placed bids on their favourite tree in store. For the first time in the project’s fourteen-year history, the dazzling display can also be found online at www.festivaloftrees.co.uk to enable bidding to continue on the trees.

Festival of Trees

Trees include 2 Little Ducks, Manchester United and Manchester City Football Clubs and Virgin Media.

Each tree has a minimum bid of £50 and whoever has the highest bid by closing time on Sunday 13 December, gets to take the tree home.

With some of the trees fetching hundreds of pounds each, the hospice hopes that the project will raise much-needed income. Since its beginnings the Francis House Festival of Trees has raised in excess of £245,000.

This year’s participants include L’Oreal, Mottram Hall, Fibre Hair Salon, St Andrew’s CE Primary School, Manchester United and Manchester City Football clubs.

Towers Business Park has donated two trees including hundreds of pounds in Selfridges, Harrods and M&S vouchers. The Hilton Garden Inn Lancashire Cricket Club tree offers an overnight stay in a pitch view room and club merchandise.

“We are so grateful to all our tree sponsors for coming to our aid in such difficult times and supporting the Festival Trees. The display looks magical and the variety of trees this year means that there is something for everyone.”

“We of course couldn’t do it without the support from Quayside MediaCityUK who once again have generously donated a retail unit to the hospice to become home to the display in the run up to Christmas. We hope lots of people will continue to place bids whilst the shop is closed and look forward to welcoming them back if it is safe to do so in December.”

Julie Williams, Francis House fundraiser

Photography for the Festival of Trees was kindly provided by Lian Cunliffe of The Snapper Photography.

Francis House is facing a shortfall in income from cancelled fundraising events as a result of the coronavirus crisis. All money raised will be used to support the work of Francis House and help towards providing care and support to the families of children, teenagers and young adults with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions from across Greater Manchester.

The Festival of Trees is located on 1st Floor, Quayside MediaCityUK, The Quays, Salford M50 3AH

Visit www.festivaloftrees.co.uk to bid online

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