A Christmas tradition started by accident has raised thousands for animal charity Woodside
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This request sparked a decision to add a colour to beloved Christmas tradition that started with the hanging of a shabby piece of golden plastic represent living pets, with gold reserved for past ones. is now a firm favourite with people around the Florist ribbon did the trick. Although readily country and has raised thousands of pounds available, it did bring some issues with it. The job of cutting it to length was extremely for unwanted pets. tedious but punching the hole in without Woodside Animal Welfare Trust, based tearing the tag was impossible. A soldering in the countryside south of Dartmoor, just north of Plympton, has been running for more iron solved that problem, held nervously than 40years. Founded by animal lover Carole between the knees while holding the breath against the dreadful smell of melting Bowles MBE, it has grown from a shanty polyester. town of animal enclosures to the purpose Another turning point arrived with the built centre that exists today. tragic death of a supporter’s daughter It was 31 years ago while the centre was in 1996, when purple and blue ribbons a ‘shanty town’ that a volunteer hung a were added to represent past and piece of gold plastic on a Christmas tree in present people. a freezing Elfordleigh paddock. The plastic The tree is still going strong, garland was salvaged from a as are a significant number skip in Plymouth and an idea Until the top branches were filled, of those hardy staff and was born to cut the garland dressing the tree involved balancing on a volunteers and the soldering into suitable lengths and chair, on a wobbly picnic bench, often being iron. Now safely indoors, punch holes in them for ties. The novel idea of putting battered by vicious winds, occasional sleet trees will be in the sanctuary and all five charity shops pet names on these tags soon and, on a bad day, Gerald the goat. and, each tag is still at the began to gain ground and original price of only 50p. more and more were added Woodside’s history to the donated firs every year. The sanctuary is set in lush farmland and conveniently Until the top branches were filled, dressing the tree adjacent to dog friendly Cann Woods. Eco-friendly with involved balancing on a chair, on a wobbly picnic bench, often being battered by vicious winds, occasional sleet and, beehives, a reed bed pond and a grass roof, Woodside is well equipped to cater for the 18 species it can hold today. on a bad day, Gerald the goat. Carole has many memories of its creation: ‘Forty-odd The tradition went on to be a roaring success and was years ago with my late husband Dave, I was juggling much enhanced after a visitor asked: ‘Can I put my dead a boarding business and caring for a growing number dog on your Christmas Tree?’
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