Each year, the Tree of Light arranged by Ludlow Rotary Club gives locals the opportunity to shine a light in memory of a loved one, to celebrate a special occasion or to send good wishes to friends or family by making a dedication and donation.

All funds raised are earmarked by Ludlow Rotary Club for local projects through its annual community grants scheme, Ludlow Rotary Cares.

Donations made to last year’s Tree of Light, along with money raised at the 2023 Ludlow Dog Day, made it possible for the club to offer grants totalling almost £7,000 in support of 11 community projects in 2024.

All grant recipients subsequently wrote to confirm how their grants had been used.

Christine Perkins of Rockspring Community Choir said the grant had allowed the choir to buy a projector and screen and scarves for the members.  

"It has meant that we are actually looking at our musical director rather than having our heads buried in a music score," she said.

Another recipient was the 1st Ludlow Scout troop. Spokesperson Phillip Sandell said their grant had been spend on four first aid kits and an emergency shelter, with leftover cash used to hire a GPS tracker to help leaders track the scouts during expeditions.

"It saves the leaders a lot of time looking for them when they take the wrong turning or divert because they don’t like the look of the cows," Mr Sandell said.

And Rob Loynes, on behalf of South Shropshire Engineering Ambassadors, said the grant had made it possible for the team to provide  interactive engineering projects for around 100 children, inspiring them to engage and further their understanding with a view to them becoming our engineers of the future.

This year, the Tree of Light in Castle Gardens will be switched on at 7pm on Friday, November 22, by the Mayor of Ludlow, Councillor Beverley Waite.

The tree will remain lit until Twelfth Night on January 6. The tree lighting will be preceded at 6.45pm by a torch light procession led by the Rocksprings Community Choir across the Market Square.