A tree dressing event is being held in Chipping Sodbury which will involve a range of activities for local residents to celebrate our local trees and wildlife.
Organised by local conservation group, St John’s Park Conservation Group, with the support of South Gloucestershire Council, the ancient custom of tree dressing has been revived to help promote the value of trees to both people and wildlife.
Taking place on Saturday 11th December from 12.30 to 3.30pm in the green spaces of St John’s Park estate, on the riverside footpath between Wickwar Road and Hatters Lane, the event will involve a range of exciting activities for all the family to celebrate trees, including the dressing of a tree with artwork and natural sculptures.
Activities on offer will include environmental art workshops, bird feeder making and winter safaris. The artwork developed during the event will contribute to the production of an information panel to be sited in the area.
Participation is free and open to all and it will provide an opportunity to see an outdoor art gallery of stunning sculptures made by students from St John’s Mead primary school. The students have been helping to design the new information panel.
Trees are venerated all over the world in different forms and the custom of tree dressing takes place at different times of the year. In France on May Day trees are decked with flowers, whilst in India during winter trees are painted with vermillion and turmeric. In Scotland, trees standing beside certain wells are hung with thousands of strips of cloth and in Africa rings of palm leaves are placed around the trunks of silk cotton trees.
Source: South Gloucestershire Council
