A EASTLEIGH mum has built her very own Christmas tree winter wonderland using old pallets.

Kirsty Evans, who works in the plant department at Wyevale Garden Centre in Fair Oak, made 50 wooden pallet Christmas trees and distributed them throughout the community to be decorated.

A total of 43 trees have been returned to the centre by a number of groups, including schools, Scouts and knitting groups and they are now on display around the store.

The 36-year-old first had the idea to make the trees whilst searching an online site.

 

She said: “I had the idea in June and I thought wouldn’t it be lovely if I made loads of these and we could display them at the garden centre.

“I invited schools, Scouts, guides, kids clubs and older people through knitting groups.

“I wanted it to be a big community project.

“They started coming in one at a time and it was amazing.”

Groups were encouraged to decorate a tree to represent their club or a charity they support.

One school who got involved was Fair Oak Juniors School where Kirsty’s 4-year-old daughter attends.

The school took on nine trees which were all decorated by the pupils.

 

Kirsty, who has worked at Wyevale Garden Centre for eight years, said she would like to repeat project next year but with “a bit more structure.”

The project even has its own Facebook page titled “The Pallet Tree Project” where people can share their photos of the trees.

Wyevale Garden Centre manager Gaynor Adamson said: “We were so amazed at how quickly this project took off the response and efforts from our local community groups has been fantastic.

“It’s one of the best recycling ideas we’ve ever had, this was a trial run we hope to go bigger and better next year!”