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Lithuanian group's Easter tree brings joy to town

John Devine
BBC News, East
Reporting fromWisbech
John Devine/BBC Aidas Klumbys, 44, has no hair and is wearing a green baseball cap, he has a white jumper on and behind him is the decorated Easter tree and the market square beyond that, with shops and people wandering around.John Devine/BBC
Aidas Klumbys, 44, said the Lithuanian group he chairs wanted to bring the Wisbech community together by decorating a tree for Easter

A Lithuanian community group wants to create a new Easter tradition in a market town.

The Wisbech Lithuanian Community Acorn (WLCA) group, alongside other residents, have decorated a tree in the market square with Easter artwork.

WLCA chair Aidas Klumbys, 44, said his wife had come up with the idea, which he said was not a tradition in Lithuania.

A resident who has lived in Wisbech for 50 years said it made her "emotional" when she took her grandchildren to see it, describing the tree as the "nicest thing she'd seen in a long time".

Lithuanian Easter spirit comes to Wisbech

Mr Klumbys said his group had about 30 members and it aimed to promote positivity in the town.

"We want to create a big strong undivided community in Wisbech," he said.

"We had a gazebo in the market square last week and invited everyone to come and make a special Easter decoration for the tree," he added.

Mr Klumbys said about 100 residents were involved in the finished tree, unveiled on 13 April.

John Devine/BBC Janice Dunsdon, 75, has dark brown hair with brown thin rimmed glasses she is wearing a pink coat and behind her is the market place with shoppers and various buildings.John Devine/BBC
Janice Dunsdon, 75, said she thought the tree really "brightened up the town"

Janice Dunsdon, 75, said she was very surprised to see the tree in Wisbech.

"It made me smile, it's really lovely," she said.

"I'll have to have a look when its dark as it has got twinkly fairly lights on too.

"These days we need something like this," she added.

Aidas Klumbys A group of 6 people making tree decorations inside a white gazebo.Aidas Klumbys
According to Mr Klumbys "all sorts of people got involved to make colourful tree decorations"

Joy Burrows, 79, thought the tree brought a "splash of colour" to the town.

"I didn't notice it when I first popped into the square and it was a lovely thing to see it," she said.

"People are taking pictures of it.

"Not an awful lot happens in Wisbech, but it is really gorgeous. It has cheered up my day and I think it will for a lot of people," she added.

John Devine/BBC Joy Burrows, 79, has light brown hair and light blue rimmed glasses she is wearing a blue padded jacket with a green round collared top. Behind her is the market square, shops and people.John Devine/BBC
Joy Burrows, 79, said the tree was very special and it had "made my day"

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