The Mayor of Dudley is set to attend a range of Christmas carol concerts featuring a backdrop of knitted Christmas trees as part of the Crafty Christmas trees community project.

The trees were the idea of Karen Moore, a lady active in the Sedgley community and Vice Chair of Sedgley E Townswomen Guild.

She had seen Christmas trees made from crocheted squares online and thought it was a novel idea which could be done locally. With the help of local churches, voluntary organisations and the support of Dudley Council, hundreds of people have come together to knit, crochet and sing this December.

People of all ages and abilities across the borough have been knitting and crocheting squares to turn into Christmas trees. So far they’ve made two Christmas trees, each 7 feet tall and four large blankets. The trees were erected on November 30th and will be on display during December and up until Epiphany in All Saints, Sedgley and St Chads, Coseley.  The blankets will be donated to different care home across the borough. 

Local primary schools have also got involved and their school choirs will be singing at three residential care homes across the borough, sharing songs, photos and poetry. The Sedgley based TG Singers will also be performing at one of the residential homes. Each choir will be delivering one of the blankets made from squares and one of the project team will be explaining and showing photos of how the Christmas trees were constructed. 

The project has involved workshops and knit and crochet sessions for people to learn new skills, forge new friendships, encourage a sense of purpose and community and reduce isolation and loneliness.

Squares have been received in the post from across the borough and beyond, and everyone who has participated, whether in a group or on their own, has played an important part in this community project. The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Andrea Goddard said:

“This is just such a beautiful idea. People have come together from across the community and across the generations to take part in this project. It’s not only brought people together to make the squares, but will also culminate in five community carol concerts and the creation and generous donation of blankets to four of our care homes.

“With performances from schools, the TG Singers as well as the contributions from the crafters this a truly multi-generational project which has helped to bring communities together and I can’t wait to attend these performances.”

Karen added: “Sedgley Townswomen's Guild Craft group have worked hard making and joining together squares but have been amazed at how successful the project has been and how many squares have been sent to us from members of the local community.

"To link with the Village Connect theme (Sedgley, Coseley, Gornal), a third tree has been promised for St James, Lower Gornal in 2024. We are already well on the way to having enough squares for that tree (each tree needs 317 squares).

"We are delighted with the success of this community project and hope to plan more community crafting projects in the future.”

The Mayor and Consort, Councillor James Clinton, will be attending three of the events, these include Sunday 3 December, 12noon at St Chads Church Coseley which is open to all. It will showcase one of the Christmas trees and The Townswomen Guild Singers will also be performing at this event.  

The Mayor will also be attending two further events on Tuesday 12 December, with a performance by Jessons Primary School Choir at Chaddesley Court Care Home in Dudley and Tuesday 19 December, with a performance by Townswomen Guild Singers at Broadway Halls, Care Home in Dudley.

A further two events at care homes will include on Friday 8 December – Bramford Primary School Choir at Island Court Care Home and on Wednesday 20 December – Queen Victoria Priory School Choir singing at Neville House Care Home, Sedgley.