Church Square Tree of Joy set to be best yet – but Rotary needs more trees for future

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The Tree of Joy in Church Square is set to be a vision this year with all new lighting, decorations, Christmas presents and a white picket fence.

The fence, constructed by Rotary Club of Guernsey president Nigel Dorey, will replace the metal barriers of previous years.

‘It’s hopefully going to be the prettiest Tree of Joy so far in Church Square. It’s one of the busiest parts of Town and so is another way of us promoting the Tree of Joy initiative which delivers Christmas presents to deserving youngsters,’ said Mr Dorey.

‘Church Square is where Father Christmas turns on the main lights and so it’s important that the tree looks as festive as possible.’

Each year the tree in Church Square is donated to Rotary by an islander but this is the last tree that they have available and so they need people who are willing to put trees forward for use in future years.

This year’s tree is being donated by Mr Le Clercq who lives in St Martin’s. It will be cut down on Wednesday 27^th November and then put up in Church Square from 8am on Thursday 28^th November ready for Father Christmas coming to Town on the Saturday.

‘We are very grateful to all of the islanders who have in past donated trees for us to use as it adds to the festive feel in Town. We did an appeal about five years ago and had enough to last until now but the hunt is on once more for trees that are suitable that people may be thinking of removing at some stage over the next few years,’ said Rotarian John Hollis.

The Church Square tree complements the Tree of Joy on the Weighbridge roundabout, sponsored by Sure, Long Port and Deutsche Bank, as well as a replica at the airport. All of the trees are designed to raise awareness of the Tree of Joy initiative, which will this year collect presents for a record number of children – nearly 700.

The tags will be distributed to shops and businesses across the island. Islanders are asked to take a tag, purchase and wrap a gift suitable for the age and gender of the child written on the tag and then return it.

Anyone wishing to donate a tree in future years should contact John Hollis on 07911 716464.