Giant tree dominating Riverhead Square 'does Grimsby justice'

Grimsby's new look Riverhead Square is looking all spruced up for Christmas, thanks to a spectacular 40ft tree bought by North East Lincolnshire Council.

Grimsby town centre now has a tree to match the giant trees gifted to Grimsby in honour of the Allied liberation of Norway in the Second World War.

Since the Millennium the people of Sortland on the Norwegian coast donated a 40ft tree in gratitude to the UK. But after criticism of the tree in 2018, the Christmas tradition came to an end and Grimsby was nearly left without a tree. That was until someone left a decorated 12in tree in its place as a Festive joke.

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Now the Norway spruce, bought from Real Christmas Trees in Birmingham, dominates the square which has undergone a £3.2million transformation with its own trees.

Around 11,000 plants, trees and shrubs were planted in the landscaping. This included evergreens and deciduous species to ensure year-round seasonal interest, and a section is a rain garden, as part of sustainable urban drainage.

Evergreens are combined with deciduous specimens for year round seasonal interest providing blossom in Spring, colour in Autumn and fruit in Winter. The existing lime trees were removed and will be replaced with semi-mature Field maple trees which have a reputation for managing tough urban conditions well.

To get visitors to Grimsby in the Christmas spirit a 23ft and a 12ft Nordmann Fir were hand picked from Strawson Woodland at Little Cawthorpe near Louth thanks to a generous donation from Newlincs Development Ltd, North East Lincolnshire’s waste management contractor. The 23ft tree is in St. James’ Square while the 12ft fir is at Grimsby recycling centre. Newlincs operate the community recycling centres in Grimsby and Immingham, and the energy from a waste plant in Stallingborough.

Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Visitor Economy, Councillor Hayden Dawkins, said: “It’s brilliant to see Christmas coming to North East Lincolnshire.

“This is a time for us to all get together across the borough and celebrate the festive period. We’re extremely grateful to Newlincs for their donation and Strawsons for helping us to get a Christmas tree that does Grimsby justice.” He described the Riverhead tree as fantastic.

Councillor Dawkins said: "I have often thought we have not done ourselves justice at Christmas so the first thing I did when I came into office last year was to make sure the Christmas event was moved from a Thursday to a Saturday and was on all day rather than just an evening. We were able to go ahead with ours while many others in the country were cancelled due to Storm Bert. I told a Live Radio station that we are a bit harder up north.

"Traders said it was the busiest they have ever had despite the weather. It was a raging success and will be bigger and better next year."

He added : "We needed a bigger tree for Grimsby and we were able to use some of the Prosperity Fund to get a good one. It is well decorated too. In the past they have been a bit shabby. Now we are making the area more attractive to people to come and visit Top Town and Freshney Place and associated places. It is a mission to save our town."