Tree blooms in winter thanks to nautical knitters

Volunteers at two zoos on the English Riviera have wrapped a tree in coloured wool and decorated it with scores of knitted sea creatures.

The tree, at Living Coasts in Torquay, was swathed in knitting and crochet-work along its trunk and branches and hung with hand-made animals including penguins, Inca terns, whales, dolphins, sharks, octopus and fish.

The 10 year old rowan tree stands on Penguin Beach and was duly inspected by the Zoo’s resident African and macaroni penguins.

Neil Thomas-Childs, Volunteer Co-ordinator for Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts, said: “A dozen volunteers from both Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts knitted and crocheted animals and lengths of colour. We held drop-in sessions - I provided patterns, wool, biscuits and hot drinks and the volunteers did the rest!”

Volunteers at the two charity zoos support visitors and keeping staff all year round by carrying out a wide range of tasks. Neil again: “This has been a great way to cheer up a cold, grey month. We decided to yarn bomb a tree to highlight the botanical side of the Zoo. It is also promoting the idea of volunteering. Knitting is a good activity for the winter, when the volunteers have less to do.”

The knitted species include jellyfish, octopus, shark, starfish, seahorse and blue spotted sting-ray. There are also seals and penguins

Neil is now looking for further donations of wool for a Christmas yarn bombing event at Paignton Zoo. Spare wool and yarn can be dropped off at either Paignton Zoo or Living Coasts.

Volunteer opportunities at both zoos are now available – people can register their interest in becoming a volunteer at either site through the two web sites: www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer or http://www.livingcoasts.org.uk/involved/163