Visitors to Liverpool ONE this festive season will have the chance to pick up a very special tree – for free!
Feature by Jean Hill
This one is close to my heart. My son travelled the world for a year, but promised to be back in time for Christmas. He managed this despite a stormy sea voyage in a small vessel and encountering a bit of a riot on the way to the airport in Mexico. I had bought a small Christmas tree planted in a tub to celebrate his return. Maybe seven years down the line, the Christmas tree comes back inside to be decorated on my son’s birthday (in the lead up to Christmas). It has thrived and is quite imposing these days.
Liverpool ONE has partnered with The Mersey Forest and Liverpool City Council on this important initiative. The aim is to encourage more green spaces as well as helping to tackle climate change and create more habitats for wildlife to thrive.
The ‘Big Tree Give Away’ launched at Liverpool ONE today (on Friday 12th November at 4pm). This coincides with the start of Christmas and the illumination of the giant tree in Paradise Place.
Visitors are being encouraged to pick up a tree and plant them at home with the aim of bringing lots of festive joy this season. At least 3,000 trees will be available on a first come, first served basis. Those taking trees home will be given tips and advice on how to care for them and help them to flourish.
The trees will be available on Upper South John Street on Friday from 4pm and again on Sunday 21st November and Sunday 28thNovember. In between these dates, visitors can call in to the Information Centre on Wall Street to pick up a tree.
Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, said: “We’ve been working closely with Liverpool ONE to introduce more green spaces in and around Liverpool… We are really excited to be involved in this project, providing trees for people to plant at home.
“If planted and cared for, these trees will be able to be enjoyed by generations of families. They will also help to tackle the climate crisis, improve the local environment and create habitats for wildlife.”
Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, added: “We’re well and truly on Christmas countdown here at Liverpool ONE… For the first time, we have teamed up with Mersey Forest to help create a forest together.
“It’s incredibly important to us that we play our role in tackling climate change and help to improve tree coverage across the city. So we’re proud to be supporting this scheme and offering visitors an early Christmas treat to take home.
“Trees will be available on a first come, first served basis, so we’d encourage people to pop down and pick up theirs while they can!”
Liverpool ONE’s Christmas decorations have also been refurbished this year with new energy saving LED bulbs, including all LED lighting in the giant tree – all in a bid to reduce energy consumption across the estate.
For further information about Liverpool ONE and everything which is happening this festive season, visit: www.liverpool-one.com
From the archives: Halloween has arrived at Liverpool ONE.
