Greerton Village's popular annual Yarn Bombing event is back.

Mainstreet Manager Sally Benning says a record 60 trees are being wrapped in colourful yarn that has been knitted, woven or crocheted this year.

Yarn bombers aged four to 90 years old, from Te Puke and Tauranga, have been working over many months to create the tree embellishments, with 45 of the trees dedicated to not-for-profit organisations.

As well as brightening up Greerton Village over winter, the aim of the outdoor public art display is to build awareness of some of the many non-profit charities that provide a myriad of services and support for people in Tauranga.

The Alzheimers' ‘Forget me not' tree featuring helping hands and forget-me-not flowers.

Greenpark School children made the pom-poms and weaving for their three trees and dozen rose bushes display created to help support St Johns.

Using chicken mesh to attach the weaving to the trunk of the largest tree, their art installation also features faces made by the school's art extension group.

'It's the first year our school has been involved,” says Greenpark School art tutor Jo Gilpin.

'The children loved it. They haven't seen it set up yet so don't know what it's going to look like. The classes will come through and have a look. It's an opportunity to celebrate the school, do something for a charity and be a part of the community.”

Linda Rookes (foreground) and Coleen Spiro wrapping one of the Waipuna Hospice trees.

The Greerton Lions club helped with hanging some of the higher objects in the trees. The public is invited to visit Greerton Village, pick up a map from the Greerton Library or Greerton Village Mainstreet Office at the Greerton Hall, and go explore the trail of trees along Cameron Road and Chadwick Road.

'All the 45 charity trees have new knitting on them,” says Sally.

'The rest of them we're covering using reworked knitting from previous years. Our map shows the location of the charity trees.”

A vote for a favourite tree can be made by way of a gold coin donation left at MD's Leatherworks, Possum Down, BNZ, Embellish Boutique or Westpac Bank in Chadwick Rd, or at Pet Essentials or First Credit Union in Cameron Rd. All votes go in to a draw to win Dinner for Two at the Oak Tree Restaurant.

Children can also complete the Greerton Village Yarn Trail Charity activity sheet and enter to win lunch for their school class.

Lynne Lawson wrapping branches for the Homes of Hope tree. Lynne also worked on the Alzheimers tree.

'Everybody please come and vote for your favourite tree,” says Greerton Village Community Knitters Yarn Bombing Coordinator Carol Power.

'Parents can come and pick up the activity sheet from the library, put a gold coin in and their kids can go on the trail and be in to win lunch for their class.”

During the Yarn Bomb installation which runs through July and August, there is also the opportunity to purchase hearts to place on ‘The Heart of Greerton' which has been erected outside the Greerton Library.

For more information and updates about Greerton Village check out https://www.facebook.com/greertonvillage

Tricia Duncan, Sue Nicholas and Dianne Ericksen, all Waipuna Hospice volunteers wrapping one of the trees outside the Waipuna Hospice shop.

The services part of the yarn bombing event:

Arms of Angels, St Vincent de Paul, Turning Point Recovery Services, Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ, Red Cross, Homes of Hope, Tauranga Ambulance, Centrepoint, Shakti Women's Refuge, Tauranga Jazz Society, Assistance Dogs, Arohanui Art and Education Trust, Zonta, Casita Charity Shop Work Experience Centre, Waipuna Hospice, Wish for Fish, Stroke Foundation, Deaf Aotearoa, Motor Neurone Disease Tauranga, Southern Star Charitable Trust, Volunteers Tauranga, Victim Support Tauranga Moana, Alzheimer's Tauranga, Age Concern Tauranga, Tauranga Big band, Riding for the Disabled, Ladybug Foundation, Otawa Sanctuary, NZ Whales and Dolphin Trust, Open Home Foundation, Melanoma Foundation, Toi Tauranga Art Programme for Kids, Mount Maunganui Lifeguards, Bird and Forest Society Tauranga, Adult Literacy, BOOBOPS, Tauranga Multicultural Society, Grief and Loss Support Services, Salvation Army, Greerton Village Kindergarten, Kidz Need Dadz, SPCA and the Cancer Society.