Kate Middleton will walk down a tree-lined aisle in Westminster Abbey at her wedding to Prince William on Friday after trees were hoisted into the abbey.

Six field maples and two hornbeams placed in large pots made by craftsmen at Highgrove, Prince Charles' country home, will create a green avenue in the abbey decked out with seasonal British flowers and foliage.

Much of the foliage has come from royal estates and after the wedding the trees will end up at Highgrove.

The first of the maples, standing 20 feet (six metres) high and weighing more than half a tonne, was lifted into place by five men on Tuesday.

Shane Connolly, the artistic director of flowers for the royal wedding, said he chose the trees to reflect the "medieval ethos" of the abbey.

"These wonderful curved ceilings are supposed to reflect the branches of trees and that was what I thought of when I thought of having trees in the abbey," he said.

He said the bride had been closely involved in choosing the floral displays for the abbey.

"It is a huge honour, but even more than the honour, it is a delight to work with somebody who has been as lovely and interested as Catherine has been.

"She has been a complete joy throughout so that has been the real treat."