A NEW Christmas tree has been planted in Fir Tree with help from Durham County Council.
Villagers asked the local Residents’ Association to look into replacing the tree because of its poor condition and the fact it did not represent the name of the village very well. Karen Fatkin, originally from Stanhope, and Helen Pepper are the new joint Secretaries of the Fir Tree and Harperley Residents’ Association along with Trustee, Sonya Bree, who has recently become the Chairman, took up the request. They began investigating how they could replace the tree.
That was back in May this year and the clock was ticking to enable a new tree to be planted in time for Christmas. Funding was needed along with permission to plant it from Durham County Council and, of course, a tree needed to be sourced.
With the help of Fir Tree County Councillor, Robbie Rodiss and a lot of hard work from the three ladies, it became obvious that no permission was needed because what had been assumed to be DCC-owned land turned out to be a Drover’s Rest and therefore common land, owned by the village.
Funding for the tree was achieved by a grant through Cllr Rodiss but sourcing a planted tree became the next challenge. After many unanswered emails, Karen used her Weardale knowledge to contact Northern Tree Transplanters, based in Lanchester. The ladies then went ‘tree-picking’!
After choosing it and funding it, the new Christmas tree was planted on October 24th with plans now in full swing to source and fund lighting.
“It has been quite a saga,” said Karen. “But it is a success story, especially with the revelation that the village owns the land that we thought belonged to the council.
“We would like to extend our thanks to Cllr Rodiss as well as Neil and Peter Armstrong for removing the old tree as well as collecting and planting the new one, aided by Bill Wilkinson, Dave Butler and Paul Fatkin.
“Now everything is in place for the festive season ahead.”
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