The Poetry Society unveiled this year’s poem dedicated to the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square at 6pm on Thursday 3 December. The poem is commissioned each year by the Poetry Society as part of its Look North More Often programme. Pupils from a London primary school recited ‘The Christmas Pine’ by Julia Donaldson, bestselling author of The Gruffalo, and former  Children’s Laureate. You can hear the premiere of the poem, and see the annual switch-on of the lights, which was held virtually this year via Westminster City Council YouTube and Facebook at the same time.

Three children from a local primary school, St Mary of the Angels in Westminster, performed this year’s poem. The children were selected after taking part in a programme of writing and performance workshops in school led by poet Coral Rumble for the Poetry Society. The children learned about the Christmas tree tradition, wrote their own poems, and were the first readers of Julia Donaldson’s new poem.  

As the famous Norwegian Christmas Tree will soon begin its journey to Trafalgar Square, the Poetry Society and the Royal Norwegian Embassy are again encircling the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree in poetry, to celebrate the city of Oslo’s annual gift to London. Julia Donaldson’s poem will be displayed around the base of the tree throughout the festive season.

You can read 'The Christmas Pine' by Julia Donaldson here