THE Abbey 900 Festival – to mark the founding of Cirencester’s Abbey in 1117 – gets underway next week with a special tree planting.

The Bishop of Gloucester is set to visit the town for the official opening on Wednesday, planting a tree in the Abbey Grounds.

The festival will run throughout the year, with highlights including Plantagenet and Regia Anglorum re-enactments, a May Day and Fleece Fair, a medieval banquet, concerts, local school and college events and a large LEGO® brick model of the Abbey church to be constructed, made up of 70,000 bricks.

Corinne Lamus, chair of the Abbey 900 steering group, said: “The festival is not simply about the Abbey but a celebration of the town, its business world and community spirit.

“The involvement of our sponsors and the town’s schools and community groups so far is testament to this and thank you to them all – without them there would be no festival.”

Primary schools – Chesterton, Cirencester, North Cerney and Powell’s – as well as Deer Park secondary school, have also completed a quilted wall-hanging based on an artist’s impression of what the abbey might have looked like.

It features a selection of medicinal herbs which were used in the Abbey at the time it was in use.

The quilt was funded by Cirencester DFAS and the Corinium DFAS.

In the 12th century, the Abbot Alexander Neckam wrote an illustrated chronicle detailing the use of herbs grown in the abbey grounds to cure illness.

Four manuscripts, currently on display in the Corinium Museum, are associated with him and it is the first time they have been seen in Cirencester since 1539.

Other sponsors and companies involved include festival partners – Sewell Mullings Logie, St James’ Place and the Royal Agricultural University.

The RAU are hosting the banquet and an auction conducted by Philip Allwood of Moore Allen and Innocent, featuring music by Major Pipework, on March 3.

Tickets are available from the RAU on-line shop shop.rac.ac.uk or by phoning 01285 644244.

Shirley Alexander, chair of trustees at Cirencester Community Development Trust Ltd, who have been heavily involved in the festival planning, said: “It will bring more people into the town while giving the residents and businesses a reason to celebrate the cultural heritage of Cirencester and where it all began.”

Meanwhile, the LEGO build needs volunteers.

The ongoing project can be seen in the Corinium Museum from February 22 before it moves to the parish church in April for the duration of the build.

William Cooper, the LEGO steward coordinator, said: “It’s a lovely way for people to be part of Abbey 900.

“Alongside helping people place a brick on the model we need people to handle donations.”

If you are interested in this or any other volunteering opportunities contact volunteer co-ordinator Alison Horrocks at horbox@hotmail.com Visit abbey900ciren.org for more information about Abbey 900.