Greerton winter yarn bombing will support local charities

GOOD CAUSE: Greerton Village community yarn bombing coordinator Carol Power said they would use the annual event as a way to raise money and awareness for local not-for-profits and charities. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Greerton's trees will once again be covered in wool - but this time it will be for a good cause.

Every year keen knitters and wool weavers get together and transform Greerton CBD into a colourful winter wonderland with knitted adornments for the trees in the area.

Greerton Village community yarn bombing co-ordinator Carol Power said this year they would use the annual event as a way to raise money and awareness for local not-for-profits and charities in Tauranga.

Each tree would be used to represent a charity, members of the public would vote for their favourite yarn bombed tree with a gold coin donation which would then go straight back to the charity it represented.

Mrs Power said 30 trees were yarn bombed across the suburb last year but she was hoping 50 trees would make the cut this year.

Haberdashery was a great way for people to connect, she said.

"This will not only be great for our community groups but it will be a great way for people on their own to meet new people and join circles - to be a part of a community and develop community cohesion.

"Greerton has a great community but there are a lot of people on their own in society, and they don't want to go to a pub or play a sport, especially older people, but they want to be a part of something in the community where they can feel valued and support each other," she said.

Knitting would start in February and installation to decorate Greerton would take place on June 24.

Mrs Power was hoping to get about 100 keen yarn bombers, including schools and retirement villages, to create coverings for the trees.

If anybody wanted to learn to knit or crochet there would be casual classes on a Tuesday night at Greers Restaurant and Bar starting in February.

Organisations which would benefit from the yarn bombing would include Shakti, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Blind Institute, Cancer Society, Te Tuinga Whanau - Support Services Trust and Grief Support Services.

To learn more about the project email: greertonyarnbombing@gamil.com or head to their Facebook page: Greerton Village Community Yarn Bombing

Don't think knitting that's cool? Ryan Gosling learnt to knit from "old ladies" while filming Lars and The Real Girl in 2007. He later said it was one of the most relaxing days of his life and is now known to knit odd pieces on film sets.