Singleton Weald and Downland Museum Tree Dressing Day

Tree Dressing Day began in the early 1990s and was founded by environmental group Common Ground with the aim of encouraging the celebration of trees all over the UK, drawing upon ancient lore and tradition such as the Green Man. One of the best established events is held at the Weald and Downland Open-Air Museum in Sussex, and takes place on the Sunday of the first weekend in December. Expect traditional songs and dances, plays, lantern making workshops and a lantern parade at 3.45 in which the aspen trees are decorated giving a magical twinkling display as dusk turns to darkness. Once the lanterns have been hung up, a huge spiral dance forms around the trees to end the day!

Helpful Hints

Other tree dressing events occur on the first  weekend in December throughout the UK – click here for more information: http://www.commonground.org.uk/

In 2024 the Weald and Downland event should be held on Sunday 1st December. When we visited in 2019 we were lucky enough to see performances of 2 different mumming plays, one including a hooden horse, a variety of carols and songs from the fabulous Rabble Folk Theatre, and enchanting storytelling to music and dance by Mythago Morris. It was a really enjoyable full day out suitable for all ages.

The museum opens at 10.30 am with lantern making from 12.30 pm, and entertainments from noon. Admission prices in 2019 were £15 for adults and £7.50 for children. The museum houses 50 building exhibits in a large village-like setting and there are catering facilities on site (the cakes are particularly delicious and they use flour made on the premises at the reconstructed mill). Click here for the museum website: http://www.wealddown.co.uk/

and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wealddownmuseum/