SOMERSET West and Taunton Council is giving visitors to Taunton town centre the chance to hang their own decorations on a Memory Tree in Castle Green.

The 12ft Norman Fir has been put up and festooned with lights ready for members of the public to hang their decorations in memory of a loved one or with a simple personal message.

The tree, purchased through the Taunton High Streets Recovery Fund, with signage designed by GoCreate, will bring some extra festive cheer to people attending Taunton’s Independent Market today, on Saturday 10, and Sunday 11 December.

Taunton’s Independent Market will also be providing ribbons for people to tie with their decorations or messages onto the tree.

The fund has also been used to pay for the ambient lighting around the market house on Saturday evenings up to Christmas and street entertainers in the town centre between 11am and 2.30pm on the three Saturdays before Christmas.

This is in addition to seasonal high-street lighting provided by the Council and the spectacular Christmas tree taking pride of place outside the Market House in Fore Street, generously donated by Langford Lakes Christmas Tree Farm.

SWT is also offering free parking for Christmas shoppers after 3pm in its Taunton car parks (excluding Kilkenny), and all-day parking at its car parks in Wellington and West Somerset on the Saturdays of 10, 17, and 24 December.

The council’s award-winning Vivary Park will also be transformed into a magical Christmas scene by our parks and open spaces team for the ever-popular Carols Around the Bandstand supporting the Mayor of Taunton’s charity, at 6.30pm on Monday, 12 December.