Posted: Thu 3rd Dec 2020

Connah’s Quay’s forlorn Christmas tree comes in for a bit of a media bashing but there is some GREAT news!

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Thursday, Dec 3rd, 2020

Connah’s Quay’s Christmas tree has come in for a bit of a media bashing in the last couple of days. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The tree, which was supplied and planted last year by Flintshire County Council “has not fared very well in its first year” and looks to be withering away. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Attempts have been made to revive it with fertiliser but for this year, given its poor state of health, no Christmas lights have been placed onto the tree. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The ‘Metro’ has labelled it ‘Britain’s saddest Christmas tree.’ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It says: “If you wanted to find a Christmas tree that sums up the year we’ve had, you probably wouldn’t find a better one than in Flintshire.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The theme continues in the Daily Mirror who’s headline states: “Britain’s saddest looking Christmas tree sums up 2020 for one unlucky town.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

ITV’s Good Morning Britain has also had a pop at the forlorn looking tree as has BBC Radio Wales Breakfast this morning. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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The tree has come under the media spotlight following a post on the Connah’s Quay Group Facebook Page which has been commented on more than 280 times. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Many have expressed disappointed with the towns efforts. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Connah’s Quay Christmas trees have been a bit of a regular on the pages of local newspapers and websites in recent years, mainly because of mindless vandalism. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In 2017 it was attacked three times prompting a £200 reward to be put up to find the culprits. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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Connah’s Quay Town Council issued a statement following the Facebook Post last week. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A spokesperson said: “Once again Christmas trees have become a talking point on social media” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“At the request of the Town Council, Flintshire County Council very kindly supplied and planted a rooted Christmas tree in the bed near to the Connects centre as part of a tree planting project last year.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Due to the vandalism of the tree in previous years, it was hoped that a rooted tree would be safer and also kinder to the environment.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Unfortunately, the tree has not fared very well in its first year, and whilst not dead, it does not look healthy as pictures circulating on social media illustrate.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We have attempted to revive it with fertiliser and hope in time that it will thrive to become a focal point of positivity at Christmas.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Therefore, we will not be lighting this particular tree this year. We will do our best to look at other options for a Christmas tree this year and consider a longer term solution based on the feedback so far.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Following a town council meeting on Wednesday, Cllr Bernie Attridge confirmed that a new 13 ft tree will go up in Connah’s Quay on Saturday. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

We understand that this one will be lit up. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Attridge tweeted: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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