One hundred twinkly Christmas trees have been set up in the medieval Great Barn at Buckland Abbey to form part of its ‘River of Light’ illuminations.

The illuminations are inspired by the Cistercian monks who founded the abbey nearly 800 years ago and first arrived at their new home by navigating their way along the River Tavy.

Visitors following the tree lights will find themselves meandering through a sparkling forest, but rather than walking on a path it will feel as though they are walking through the nearby River Tavy.

Visitors will be immersed in a river of light, created using rippling lights of blue tone colours, and may even spot the odd fish or two on the side of the barn walls.

An abbey spokesman said: “For centuries rivers have been the veins that run through our cities and countryside: providing water for us to drink, grow crops and tranquil places to explore and escape.

“Today though, our rivers are in trouble - and so is the wildlife that depends on them.

“This means that some of our most important plants, insects, animals and birds are at risk and the ‘River of Light’ display is hoping to highlight this message.”

An army of volunteers have helped install all the Christmas trees in the barn; more than sixty volunteers have helped with every little detail, from making evergreen arbours for the doorways, to dressing Christmas trees in the abbey and sewing the Georgian staircase cascade.

Eleanor Hopkinson, the abbey’s visitor experience officer said: “Inside the abbey, thousands of hours of needlework have been put into a beautifully detailed Christmas cascade.

“Fifteen talented volunteers from Buckland Abbey’s costume group have spent over a year sewing hundreds of individual pieces to create a cascade that hangs the full length of the Georgian staircase depicting the history of Buckland Abbey.”

The cascade tells the story of Buckland Abbey in Medieval times, when it was a busy place of work for the resident monks and the people of the surrounding villages. Buckland Abbey and the Great Barn is open daily until December 31.

For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey