The Woodland Christmas tree.

In the woodland, close to the container but on the opposite side of the path, are two large yew trees. These were planted to commemorate lives -- the larger (and further from the path) was planted by our founder, Jim Grogan, to mark the life of his big brother, Ben. The rather smaller tree, which is closer to the path, was planted by Jim's family shortly after his death in 2011.

It is this second tree which, each year, is decorated by a group of people who don't know each other and whose only connection is a love of our woodland (and perhaps the need to walk their dogs!)

Each year, during the early weeks of December, the users of the woodland bring along appropriate decorations and put them on the tree, so that, little by little, it becomes a riot of colour and sparkle that can gladden one's heart on a miserable and dull winter day.

There are a few (very obvious) rules that apply:

• None of the ornaments must be made of breakable glass,
• The tree must not be harmed in any way,
• Hands must be washed after hanging the ornaments (because yew is poisonous) and
• EVERYTHING hung on the tree must be removed by the person who put it there before the middle of January.

No one organises the decoration or plans the display. No one artistically arranges the ornaments. It is truly a community activity, with those individuals taking part doing so only because they wish to do so. So, when you walk through the woodland during the Christmas period and see the tree standing there in all its finery, you will know that here is a very special Christmas greeting brought to you by the users of the woodland. Truly a Christmas greeting from a part of the Tarvin community to the rest of the Tarvin community. How splendidly appropriate that is!

Thank you -- as ever.