From 15th to 17th December 2024, Community groups in Cromar were invited to take part in the Christmas charity event hosted at Douneside House in Tarland, Aberdeenshire. Six cut pines, which is approximately 2.4m high were provided for groups to decorate. Cromar Food Waste Project and Tarland Climate Crisis Group together decided to rise to this challenge and create a Zero Carbon Tree. We scratched our heads, scorned the cut pine as unlikely to be from a sustainable source, and began to commission decorations that fitted our zero carbon bill.
The “tree” was our ever-ready beech pruning, used many times as the centrepiece of climate events in the community. Stored in a pavilion that is now used as the hub for our community waste/surplus food pop ups, it is a familiar addition to community family events throughout the year.
The decorations came from several community folk who created them from waste materials that would have otherwise been discarded: mandarin peel stars, song sheet origami doves, mince pie case bells, pinecones, painted shells, message discs, a corrugated cardboard star, loo roll centre stars, orange slice baubles, and a set of solar powered lights, likely mass-produced and low quality, but allowed a story about energy production. We even had a reindeer with climate stripe saddle. The creativity in bringing up these wealth out of waste ornaments are to be appreciated.
We worked on getting our zero carbon message told – using card luggage labels attached to each concept with the reason for the choice of decoration.
Hundreds of people came to the event and our “tree” stood proudly with the others from Cromar History Group, Cromar Future Group, Cromar Horticultural & Industrial Society Group; Tarland Lego Club; and 1st Cromar Rainbows. Throughout the process of design, commission, set up and at the event itself, we were able to share the tree’s story of “reuse, recycle, repair, restore, repurpose” through fun, conversation and community.
Here’s to more opportunities for Climate Conversations and Call to Action in 2025!
PS We liked the Cromar Horticultural & Industrial Society’s (CH&IS) tree with teasels, sprouts, carrots and pinecones featured as the first image.
