Young explorers dress to impress for Tree Week
ATEAM of nature lovers gathered to dress trees as part of National Tree Week.
The Wildlife Explorers, the junior section of The RSPB in East Cheshire, gather each year during the annual event to create sculptures from natural materials, celebrating the cultural, historical and ecological importance of trees.
This year the group returned to the woodland at Tegg’s Nose Country Park to create a gallery of clay-based ephemeral artwork made entirely from natural materials.
Inspired by nature, mythology and the group’s current community project, The Macclesfield Big Bird Box Build, creations ranged from owls and hedgehogs to nestboxes and even an entire tree.
It has become a tradition for the annual Tree Dressing session to incorporate a Silly Hat competition.
Group leader, Tina Hanak, said: “This year, many of our young artists have taken inspira- tion from the festive season. We have seen some beautiful clay reindeer and robins and even a Christmas turkey. It is great to see families having lots of fun outdoors in nature, whatever the time of year.”
After some games to warm up, the group rounded off the session with festive refreshments – hot drinks, mince pies and mini chocolate yule logs.
For more about the Wildlife Explorers, go to www. macclesfieldrspb. org.uk.