West Jesmond Primary School was voted the overall winner of St. Hilda’s Christmas tree festival on 2nd December, with their tree, ‘The Egg-cellent Christmas Tree’.

The entry’s message was to promote recycling, and it showcased 72 egg boxes painted by the school’s eco committee.  

Anna Askew, 27, a teacher at West Jesmond Primary, said: “We are so happy to have won, we really feel the support from the community, it was just fantastic to be involved.”

She added: “We definitely plan to be back next year, both bigger and better. We had such a fantastic time and it was a lovely way to bring a little Christmas spirit!”

This was the 15th year the festival took place, with St. Hilda’s Church (SHC) having been “the first to do so in the north east.”

This year 33 trees were entered by different businesses, schools, community groups and individuals.

Other winners included Maureen Gibson’s ”Tree’mendous party dress’ in the individual category and St. Hilda’s Ballet School’s ‘Tchaikovs-Tree’ in the business category.

Julia Williamson, 53, who runs St. Hilda’s Ballet School, said: “It’s absolutely lovely [to win], [and] the prize feels kind of chocolatey, so we’ll see if any of those last until Christmas.”

She added: “As hall users, we’re like ships crossing in the night. We don’t participate perhaps enough in the life of the actual church, so this is a really nice way of reminding us what the building’s for.”

Lesley Dinning, 75, and church warden at SHC, said: “It’s a community event and we do want to involve people from all walks of life.”

She added: “It’s been an awful day weather wise, but it hasn’t stopped the people coming. We’ve had babies, we’ve had children, grandpas, every generation. Past winners, future winners, they’ve all been here.”

Bailey Bratton, a 36-year-old graphic designer who won second place in the individual category with her homemade, board game inspired tree, ‘Tree-vial Pursuit’, said: “I was so excited to come in and see people actually playing it. I think that’s the prize, seeing people […] enjoying it.”

The event ended with a carol service surrounded by the trees where the winners were announced and prizes were handed out.

These prizes were donated by local businesses, like Jesmond Dene House, who donated afternoon tea for two.

Dinning said: “We couldn’t have done it otherwise, because the funds don’t come in to cover it.”

She added: “I would have liked to have had more prizes, there were so many worthy winners here today.”