A crochet Christmas tree created by residents of Woodlands Care Centre and Village has taken top honour at the annual Christmas Tree Festival and Nelson Cathedral.
The tree, created for the annual Christmas Tree Festival, was a labour of love by residents at Woodlands Care Centre and Village.
Residents service manager Gertrudes Vendelbosch says each square was individually crocheted, with the frames handmade from wood and wire.
“The tree represents our various culture and beliefs here at Woodlands retirement village.”
The Dean of Nelson Cathedral, Reverend Graham O’Brien, says that over the two months since the 75 trees were switched on - a record number of entries - more than 13,500 votes had been cast to find the most popular tree.
The crochet tree secured just “a handful” of votes more than Nelson’s Green Gables Retirement Village’s tree.
Around 20,000 people visited the Cathedral during the festival, itself another record.
“Seventy-five trees is a record number and stretched the Cathedral’s capacity,” Dean Graham says. “We were delighted to see such a wide range of community organisations represented here and a good many were here for the first time.
“It’s a fantastic way to get your organisation’s name and purpose in front of a highly sympathetic crowd and we’re sure that the participating community groups benefitted from the exposure”, he notes.
Nelson Cathedral’s Christmas Tree Festival closed in style with a switch-off service on Sunday morning, 18 January 2026.
The five Christmas Tree Festival finalists were presented with their certificates at the switch-off service. They were Nood Nelson, The Alzheimer’s Association Nelson-Tasman, and Citizens Advice Bureau Nelson-Tasman. Second placed was Nelson’s Green Gables Retirement Village, and the winners were Motueka’s Woodlands Retirement Village.
