Wrapped up for shortest day

Dunedin city councillor Fliss Butcher wraps the Octagon's plane trees with scarves knitted and crocheted by council staff, Grey Power, and Methodist Mission members.

Up for just a few hours yesterday, on the year's shortest day, the scarves also drew attention to the International Year of Biodiversity, Cr Butcher said.

They were removed earlier than planned, in case yesterday's rain damaged them and will now be stitched together into blankets to be dispersed by the Methodist Mission.

Earlier this year, it was feared the plane trees had a rare fungal disease.

However, tests revealed they were not dying but appeared susceptible to secondary pathogens, which could be because of their urban environment.

Cr Butcher said the "poorly" trees needed some "extra love".

The exercise had been a great community art project, she said.