Ramsgate is well known for its community spirit and partnership working, but a coming together has resulted in benefits for all and especially for some four-legged friends.
The St George’s Church Christmas Tree fundraising display was simply fabulous again this year, with 30, five foot Christmas trees decked out by local organisations, groups and individuals including the RNLI, the Police, Ramsgate Town Council (RTC), the Western Undercliff Residents’ group and newcomers, MerMads, as well as the Northwood WI, to mention only a few. This year, RTC Central Harbour Ward councillors, Councillor Raushan Ara, Councillor Tricia Austin and Councillor Becky Wing purchased a tree as well, with a beach-theme of ‘Leave Only Footprints’.
Jennifer Smith, the organiser of the event and a key volunteer at the Church, has worked tirelessly to ensure another atmospheric display was on offer to locals and visitors over the festive period. One of the RTC Technicians was quoted as saying that “Once all the trees were up it really was something special to see! The variety of tree decorations was again of an exceptional standard”. I dressed the tree on behalf of the three ward councillors. In my opinion, all the 30 dressed trees really did represent the great community spirit we have in the town we all love. It was a privilege to be part of this Christmas tree fundraising display, and we, as ward councillors, want to become a regular part of this initiative as a result.
This yearly event raises funds towards the restoration of the church and is now a much-loved Christmas spectacle. The downside, as we all know, comes in the New Year, with packing it all away and disposing of the trees. The Carbon Trust (
www.carbontrust.com) states that a real Christmas tree has a ‘significantly lower’ carbon footprint, particularly if sourced locally and disposed of in a sensible manner. So, while we were helping Jennifer and her team of volunteers to take the display down, I mentioned to one of the RTC Technicians, that I was aware of a farm that take trees from local residents in the ward for their goats to eat! All present agreed this would be a great idea: goat recycling of Christmas trees!
The local ‘switches’ groups were able to give the details of the farm, so Ramsgate Town Council and I ‘swung into action’. I contacted Mariners Farm in Bishopsbourne, and spoke to the owner, Ali, who said that the goats love to eat the pine needles if they are still green and then spend a great deal of time playing with what’s left, dragging it about and climbing and jumping. They clearly enjoy this.
Ali agreed to take the 30 Christmas trees and the Town Clerk, Laura Fidler, agreed this was a great way for Ramsgate Town Council to support our community. The RTC Technicians, Maxine Morgan and Gary Mills, were more than happy to undertake this task the day after, and Maxine added, “It’s not often we get to make goats happy in our daily work and recycle green waste at the same time. As you can see from the photos, those with two and four legs were all very happy as a result!”.