For the past month Prospects have been running free weekly Christmas craft sessions to encourage the local community to have a more sustainable Christmas. These were organised by the Outdoor Learning officer, Sonja, with support from different Prospects project officers. All the sessions were fully booked and hugely popular.
In the first session Robert joined us to make beeswax wraps, which are a reusable plastic free substitute for cling film and make a great Christmas gift. These are very easy to make at home too and make a fun holiday craft. Next was wreath making, led by Helen, the Community TreeACTION officer. We used locally sourced willow, Scots pine, Leyland cypress, holly, and ivy, making a sustainably door decoration.
The week after we made a selection of plastic- free Christmas tree decorations to showcase sustainable decorations, but also to help decorate our entry to the Ernest Street Babtist Church Christmas tree festival. The festival featured local charities and organisations who decorated their trees with a ‘who we are’ theme. Our wood cookie baubles and popcorn garland definitely stood out!
This week we finished off the sessions with Brandon leading a wooden reindeer making session using hazel coppice from Hyndburn’s woodlands. The attendees used handsaws, power drills, whittling knives, secateurs, and loppers to make their reindeer from scratch and they all looked brilliant!
Thank you to everyone who came along to the sessions and joined in with the festivities! And to Ernest Street Baptist Church for inviting us to the Christmas tree festival. Watch this space for more session next year. Seasons greetings everyone!