Troops provide extra muscle as giant tree goes up at Fountains Abbey

Members of the 21 Royal Engineer Regiment, who are based at Claro Barracks in Ripon, got into the spirit of the festive season yesterday as they helped put a towering Christmas tree into place at the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal estate.

The troops clambered onto stepladders and helped lift the tree into place during yesterday’s operation in North Yorkshire.

The tree was so big that several troops were needed to move the Christmas tree into its position at the World Heritage site, which is located on the outskirts of Ripon.

A spokesman for Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal claimed that the soldiers’ help marked the “start of Christmas season” at the historic estate, which is run by the National Trust and is the site of one of the largest and best-preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England.

It is a festive tradition for members of the local Army regiment to help out with the duties of installing the tree at Fountains Abbey.

More information about the festive events which are being staged at the estate are available on the website, nationaltrust.org.uk/fountainsabbey.