Looking for tree-mendous Christmas inspiration?

Have you seen Hull Friends of the Earth’s Sustainabilitree at the Lord Mayor’s fabulous Festival of Christmas Trees, currently on show at Hull Minster?  If so, you might have noticed it is just a little bit different … well all right, quite a lot different!

This year, we’ve created a sustainable, recyclable, compostable Christmas tree, no part of which will end up in landfill on 6 January. More than that, the ‘tree’ itself is a metaphor for our human impact on the natural world and the fact that we still have choices, if we take them.

About the Sustainabilitree

We chose coppiced hazel for our tree, not only to show the rapid impact we humans can have on nature, but also the fact that it does not have to be permanent. The selected tree was scheduled for coppicing in the YWT Pearson Park office grounds. It will regrow.

Given how mild it has been this year, the leaves on the hazel had been well retained, but in the warm Minster they rapidly dried out and started to die. A spruce does not show this change so quickly, so even though it is a dead tree, we don’t experience the same sense of loss. Instead, we’ve enjoyed its brief presence with little thought for its origins or the void it has left.

Our Sustainabilitree stands to demonstrate this loss and make us think about where it came from and the space it left, while understanding that it comes from living stock that will regrow and potentially become stronger.

How many Friends of the Earth does it take to make a tree?

It’s the question you’ve all been asking. And the answer is five.  Those of us old enough to remember finally experienced our own Krypton Factor as we grappled with some very tall, extremely bendy branches, trying to make them stand up in a way that passed stringent health and safety as well as heritage concerns. You know the kind of thing:

              Watch out – it’ll have your eye!

              Woah! Stand back it’s going over!

              Mind the flags – they’re ancient!

              Don’t let it touch the walls – it’ll stain!

And all this without tying anything to the furniture.

After a lot of head-scratching and ineffective stuffing into an ill-equipped tree stand – actually there wasn’t any head scratching because we ladies don’t do that sort of thing, at least not in public – a distant memory of childhood adventures precipitated a light-bulb moment.

First, we headed to Trinity Market to beg or borrow a saw, but when the only tool on offer was a dodgy-looking hacksaw with few teeth, described by its owner as ‘useless’, we gave up and went to Boyes.

Who knew there were so many types? Fret, coping, rip-cut, back, pruning, wallboard… Non-plussed and way beyond our comfort zone, we went for a small saw that looked strong enough yet manageable – a tenon saw – and a steal at £4.75. You’re welcome, Boyes.

Back at the Minster, we cut the hazel to a safer size and, using the rope we’d been left, made a wigwam out of the branches. This gave us a Christmas tree shape as well ensuring a stable structure.

Finally we could set about what we’d all gone along to do: adorn the branches and twigs with a variety of dazzling decs, from train-ticket paper chains and old-magazine stars to garlands made of dried oranges and popcorn. We think you’ll agree the result is stunning!

About the decorations

Glue – Royal icing

• 1 egg white (lightly beaten)
• 250g icing sugar
• 1tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp water (but I added a little more as was very thick, I suppose it depends how big your egg was)

Mix all together, sifting the icing sugar so there are no lumps. The recipe said to add wet to dry, I did it the other way round. This will create a thick, white icing. 

Popcorn

• 50g oil
• 100g popcorn kernels

Put both in a medium-size pan (with a glass lid if you want to watch the action ☺). Making sure the kernels are coated in the oil, place over a medium heat, keeping the pan moving so the kernels don’t stick and burn. After 3-4 mins they will start popping. Keep moving the pan around and the lid on until you stop hearing the popping sound. 

Method

1. Allow the popcorn to cool for a few mins before handling. This helps the glue harden more quickly. 
2. I laid out the twine on a glass chopping-board as it makes it easier to clean. You’ll get icing glue all over whatever surface you use. Leave some spare length at either end to tie it with.
3. Apply icing glue to the popcorn – Natural Valley is best – then push it into the twine. I used a metal skewer for applying it as I found a fork/knife put too much on and it dripped all over. 
4. Use a damp finger to seal the glue over the top of the twine.

Pre-heat the oven to 80-100C (about 200F). You need to cook the orange slices low and slow to dehydrate them properly.

Cut the oranges into thin, but whole slices, and lay them out on clean paper towel. Press out any excess juice to help the slices dry out more quickly in the oven.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the slices in one even layer. Pop in the pre-heated oven and bake for 3-4 hours, depending on the width of the slices, flipping them over halfway through.

Cool the orange slices on the baking sheet, then use a skewer or a toothpick to poke a hole in the slice. You can also poke two holes, either side of the slice if you prefer.

String the orange slices along a piece of twine, tying a loop at each end to hang it up (and to stop the slices falling off!).

By the way, oranges are not the only fruit! Use lemons or limes, if preferred, or mix it up with cinnamon sticks, pine cones or monkey nuts.

If using an old magazine or book, first detach the pages from the spine.

Start with two pieces of paper which are both the same size, eg two pages from the magazine.

Fold each page accordion-style.

Then fold each concertina piece in half and tie the two together in the middle using twine. Use enough twine to allow for hanging the star later.

Now cut the ends into points (this will create a star shape when you unfurl it later).

Unfurl the pieces and stick all four flat edges together.

Lovely jubbly!

About the Festival of Trees

Every year, local groups decorate trees in aid of charities supported by the Lord Mayor of Hull and Admiral of the Humber in a seasonal smorgasbord of inspiration, edification and delight from 5 to 16 December, at Hull Minster, during normal opening hours (Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm).

This year, HFOE has joined in, creating a sustainable, recyclable, compostable Christmas tree, no part of which will end up in landfill on 6 January.

So, whether you’re counting the coins, tired of Christmas consumerism, had your fill of fake fir or simply seeking alternative ideas, look no further than our sensational Sustainabilitree for eco-inspo.

Let us know your planet-friendly Christmas ideas!