Pupils set new festive challenge with a local winter walkabout

FORFAR primary pupils have set people of all ages a novel festive challenge with a local winter walkabout.

The P4 youngsters at Strathmore School have decorated 25 wooden pallet Christmas trees to form a seasonal trail.

The school hopes residents will get into the festive spirit after the enterprise group children worked on the fundraiser.

Teacher Lynsey Mathieson said: “This is going to be a very different festive period for children and their families. More people will be staying home during the holidays.

“So we thought an outdoors adventure would be the best way to spread some seasonal joy.”

Maps with the tree locations have been produced for free by local printing firm Astute.

The school is also hoping to create extra excitement around the trail with their #strathietrees social media hashtag.

“People seem to like that the pupils have put so much of themselves into decorating and ‘planting’ the trees around Forfar,” added Mrs Mathieson.

They dropped off one of the trees to PC Scott Anderson at Forfar Police Station, with shops, businesses and other locations also on board.

The hope is families will tour the town to tick off all the trees on the trail.

Maps are available in all of Forfar’s primary schools and to the public via the library, St Margaret’s, East & Old, St Fergus and Lowson Churches and Angus Pet and Aquatics.

The trail launch comes as Angus communities brightened up their town centres with virtual lights switch-ons.

Sixth-year-Forfar Academy pupils helped town P1s in a small-scale ceremony at The Cross.

In Montrose, a small crowd joined in the live streaming of Santa leading the local lights switch-on.

Carnoustie residents were encouraged to flick the switch on their own home displays at the same time as the streets were lit up in a virtual event, while Arbroath live streamed its switch-on on Monday.

Strathmore Primary pupils with a wooden tree.