Tree-mendous yarn bombing effort in Greerton

Crochet pattern designer Alia Bland covers this tree in Greerton Village with yarn for the fourth annual yarn bombing. Photo/Andrew Warner

Bare trees in Greerton Village have been wrapped up warm in colourful wool for the biggest annual Yarn Bombing to date.

A record 39 trees have been 'yarn bombed' in Greerton Village, turning the dull wintery branches into a fun and bright spectacle.

The trees were dressed up in crocheted cosies over the weekend by the Greerton Guerillas, Ninja Knits and members of the community. Some were sponsored by local businesses.

Guest artist Alia Bland travelled from Piha to bomb two trees herself.

Ms Bland, a crochet pattern designer, said the two trees she was bombing had been a group effort from around the world.

Popular on Facebook and Instagram, Ms Bland put it out that that she was bombing a tree and knitters from the US, Sweden, the UK, the Netherlands and Australia sent in panels to be combined and installed on the trees.

"It's fun and most people are really happy about it and smiley. Plus it's a real community thing to get behind."

Ms Bland had been asked to help contribute to the yarn bombing because of her crochet talent.

The theme for this year's event was 'Hundertwasser', chosen by the Greerton Guerillas - a knitting group established to bring colour and fun to Greerton Village.

The Austrian artist was known for his bright colours, organic forms and a rejection of straight lines.

Greerton Village Mainstreet Association manager Sally Benning said winter could be a dull time of year but yarn bombing brightened up the season.

"This time of year the trees look so naked. Yarn bombing is just fun and it brings a lot of people into Greerton to see all the beautiful trees."

She said it made it hard for people to just walk past and not smile or stop to take a photograph.

This was the fourth year Greerton Village had run the Yarn Bombing and Ms Benning said it had grown to be quite big.

"It's grown because people have seen it in other years and became enthusiastic about it and come on board. The more knitters we have the more trees we can bomb."

She said 24 trees were the most they had bombed in previous years.