Competitions launched to celebrate Big Tree

August 16, 2018 at 12:00 pm

Kirkwall’s Big Tree was named Scottish Tree of the Year 2017, in a ceremony held last December at the Scottish Parliament by the Scottish Woodland Trust. (Helen Pugh Photography)

One of Kirkwall’s oldest and most famous residents — The Big Tree — is to be celebrated in the coming months, with a series of fun competitions aimed at getting the community involved in the tree’s heritage and preservation.

Kirkwall and St Ola Community Council were delighted to discover that the 200-year-old sycamore had been named Scotland’s Tree of the Year, last December. Receiving a £1,000 grant from the Scottish Woodland Trust and Postcode Lottery, members hope to use this money to promote the tree.

Along with a display centred around the award plaque, which has featured in both the window of Albert Street’s Tree Shop and now at the Orkney Museum, community councillors have launched three competitions — each themed around The Big Tree.

A short story competition, open to folk over 16 years of age, is now open for entries. Have you got a story set around the Big Tree? Submissions of 750 words — fiction or non-fiction — of any genre can be made to Community Council clerk Hazel Flett by Sunday, September 30. All pieces must be word-processed and sent by post to Glenview, Holm.
Focus on Trees — This photography competition is open to folk of all ages and can be an image of any tree in Orkney. Submissions must be made by Sunday, September 30 to Christine Harcus, Saverock House, St Ola or via the Big Tree Facebook page.
Art Competition — This primary school competition will be split into three categories — Nursery to P1, P2 to P4, and P5 to P7 — pupils will be asked to submit their drawings and paintings of the Big Tree to Christine Harcus at Saverock House, St Ola. The winner in each group will receive a special certificate and the overall winner will receive £50 for their school. ALL schools with pupils entered will receive a “Peedie Big Tree” — a seedling grown from the famous sycamore itself!

“These fun competitions are all about getting folk involved in the Big Tree — it’s history and preservation,” explained Tom Rendall, chairman of Kirkwall and St Ola Community Council.

“The idea is to get folk interested in trees. Hopefully, we’ll get plenty of entrants for the primary school competition so that each school can have its own Peedie Big Tree!”

To find out more about the project, you can visit the Big Tree Kirkwall Facebook page.