As part of the 2023 Christmas Tree Festival at St Bees Priory, St Bees Green Future created a preloved book tree. This was decorated with paper chains made from magazines, cardboard stars made from toilet roll tubes, garden greenery and topped with a book-folded angel.

Labels were also available during the Christmas Tree Festival to let people claim any books that they wished to once the tree was taken down. The remaining books from the tree were donated to Oxfam, Samaritans and Great North Air Ambulance.

Through the tree, we hoped to encourage others to pass on and choose preloved books.

If you are looking to pick up some preloved books in St Bees, take a look in The Little Library outside 61 Main Street or browse the shelves in the beach café. Alternatively, check out the buy and sell, and share swap and give away groups for St Bees.

What is your favourite preloved book find?