Council cracks festive code in blink of an eye

AN INGENIOUS method is being used to enable residents to send messages to loved ones via Macclesfield town centre’s Christmas Tree of Light.

Usually the tree, on the Market Place, has written messages hung on it but this is not being done because of Covid restrictions. Instead the lights that are placed on the tree will be programmed to blink out the message in morse code.

Those taking part can text their message and chosen light colour to organisers, who will then turn it into morse code and it will be transmitted by the tree until it comes down in January.

And if residents text #show to the same number all the other lights on the tree will disappear and their light will flash alone.

The project has been devised and created by IDST! – a Macclesfieldbased group that make community artworks.

Macclesfield Town Council and the organisers of the LIT storytelling event have also been involved.

Helena Gowler, the town council, said: “We know how important the Tree of

Light is to people at Christmas time. We wanted to honour lost loved ones in a safe, yet imaginative way, and we are delighted to have been working with LIT and IDST! to bring this new project to life.

“We can’t gather to celebrate around the Christmas tree in Market Place this year, but we can still send out our messages of hope and celebration.”

Although there is no public gathering the Message in Lights tree will be switched on around dusk on Friday, November 20. To find out how to take part visit litmacc.org.