SCHOOLCHILDREN from across the area will be hoping their creative skills come out on top when they take part in a fun Christmas tree dressing completion.

Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ysgol Gynradd Ffairfach, Pontarddulais Comprehensive School, Cwmtawe Community School and Ysgol Gynradd Penygroes are among 14 schools competing in the National Botanic Garden of Wales Christmas Tree Decorating Competition next Thursday (December 3).

Pupils will be up against the clock to decorate their tree using reused and recycled materials to create imaginative and colourful decorations based on this year’s “Magical Christmas Woodland” theme.

The aim of the event are to promote sustainability and the re-use and recycling of materials while enabling pupils to get their creative juices flowing and most importantly to have plenty of fun.

There are cash prizes and a chance to win expert supply cover plus other goodies - donated by sponsors Base Wales, Cled Moses, Gas Services Wales and Dwr Cymru.

This year, Cwm Environmental will be sponsoring all the trees which will be supplied by Cymru Christmas Trees.

The Garden’s education development officer Nancy Hardy said: “We are glad to be hosting this event again.

“It is a great opportunity to encourage schools to think about education for sustainable development and global citizenship at this special time of year and we hope that the theme will encourage schools to think about using woodlands around their school and here at the Garden to support their learning.

“We also get a lovely Christmas display for visitors to enjoy throughout December.

“We would like to thank all our sponsors for their support once again in making this event possible.”

The Christmas trees will be on show in the Great Glasshouse until the New Year.