The annual Christmas tree festival has returned to Sheffield Cathedral, with more than 40 trees on display.

Each has been decorated by a local charity or community group, and sponsored by local businesses.

Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite, with the winning organisation receiving a £250 prize as a donation to help support their work.

The organisations, whose trees each have a distinct and vibrant theme, include the Women’s Institute, Melanoma Focus, and the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind (SRSB).

Rae Drury, who suffers from a degenerative eye disease, was drawn to the SRSB tree because of how colourful and bright the baubles were, before she realised that some were her own handiwork.

A keen crafter before her diagnosis, Ms Drury had donated her decorations to a tabletop sale at SRSB, and had wondered why they were not for sale there.

She said: “I had no idea they would be on the tree, and I suddenly thought, ‘I made that’.

“It’s such a nice surprise to see them, I’m so glad I can see them.”

SRSB has been helping Ms Drury on her diagnosis journey, as she is predicted to become partially-sighted, and then blind, despite undergoing laser eye surgery last week.

She said that the work they do is “life-changing”, and that the support that she has received, and continues to receive on her journey, is invaluable.

Some organisations have chosen to use the festival as a chance to spread information and awareness.

The Women’s Institute (WI) on Ecclesall Road has decorated their tree in support of their national campaign Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers!

This campaign is targeted at spreading knowledge and understanding of CPR, and advertises free online training.

The sign written by the WI next to the tree read: “Our tree is decorated with hearts made by our members to remind us all how we can help each other by learning about CPR.”

Many of the other trees also have a topical theme, with the Stop Violence Against Women tree decked in orange ribbon and tinsel, as part of their wider Orange the World campaign.

Each tree is accompanied by an informative sign, with many also including a QR code that allows people to donate, learn more, or follow the organisations’ social media.

The festival is free to enter, and is open until 11 January 2026.