The Tree Dressing

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The Tree Dressing. (left-hand panel)

Mike Gee

Tree Dressing is a traditional festival recently revived by an environmental group called, “Common Ground,” in order to increase children’s awareness of environmental issues. There have been Tree Dressings in Chilbolton for the past three years, usually held on the last weekend in November or the first weekend in December. The children of the School and Playgroup make birdfeeders from nets filled with nuts. Long sword dancers create locks, star shaped formations made from the wooden long swords. The birdfeeders are tied to the locks and hoisted into the two ash trees near the parking area on the Common.