Bauska residents choose a natural Christmas tree for next year

Bauska residents have chosen a natural Christmas tree for the town’s Town Hall Square next year, after several years without one, LSM reported, citing Zemgale Regional Television.

A survey found that 392 of the 519 participants preferred a natural tree. Residents could also suggest other options, including a tree made from several smaller trees or spruce branches. The poll ran from late September until October 5.

Residents Kaspars and Dzintars said they preferred a real tree. Kaspars said his daughter had asked why there was no natural tree, while Dzintars said he had grown up with one.

The municipality said the response was higher than for similar surveys. Bauska city department head Gatis Pauniņš said the number of participants showed that residents cared about the issue.

The municipality has yet to decide how to install next year’s tree. A single large tree would require a secure mounting structure in Town Hall Square, and the installation could cost about 20,000 euros. This year’s tree will still be rented because there is not enough time to complete the necessary procedures, and the municipality has no forest from which to obtain one.

Across Bauska municipality, about 30,000 euros is planned for renting Christmas trees and decorations this year, with a further 30,000 euros earmarked for new decorations. Most of the new items are intended for street-light poles, while some existing decorations will be moved to other locations.

Kaspars said the same decorations were used every year and asked whether the budget could allow for different ones.