Description
Here at Teckels, we wanted to highlight how special the Rodborough Decorated Tree is to us, every single year this tree is magically decorated to remember our loved, lost pets. And along side providing a place to tribute our beloved a animals, it acts as a donation point for Teckels Animal Sanctuaries, so please if you’re planning a festive walk on the stunning Rodborough common, do stop by, and if you have any treats, toys, bedding feel free to leave it in the collection box for Teckels, there’s also instructions on how you can leave a monetary donation there too. But most importantly, enjoy the tree and the beauty of Rodborough Common! Read below of previous articles wrote about the wonderful tree.
From Stroud Times in 2021:
Paws for thought at the Christmas dog tree
At Christmastime dog walkers on Rodborough Common decorate a so-called dog tree to remember their four-legged companions.
Starting in early December, they decorate the tree with baubles, gifts, and plaques to remember their pet friends with tributes and poems.
The magnificent festive tradition has been running for years and helps to raise hundreds of pounds for the popular Teckels Animal sanctuary near Whitminster.
Teckels is a small, independent charity in Whitminster, which rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes cats and dogs.
From Gloucestershire Live in 2020:
The very special Christmas tree which remembers lost pets
Beloved dogs who have crossed the rainbow bridge are remembered every year on Rodborough Common
Dog walkers visiting a Gloucestershire beauty spot are once again remembering their much loved pets by leaving messages and poems on a special Christmas tree.
The tradition of the Rodborough Common Christmas tree was thought to have started when someone left a dog lead on one of the branches more than a decade ago and it has now become an annual event.
This year, dog walkers and their pets have been once again visiting the tree to remember their animals who have passed over the rainbow bridge.
From Stroud News & Journal in 2018:
Stunning photo captures this year’s festive ‘dog-tree’
Each year walkers on Rodborough Common decorate a so-called dog tree and put gifts and money at its base for Teckels Animal Sanctuaries.
The magnificent festive tradition has been running for years, and helps to raise hundreds of pound for the popular animal sanctury near Whitminster.
In 2015 Teckels Animal Sanctuaries centre manager Clare Campbell sent a message to everyone who helped with the tree thanking them: “The Rodborough tree has always been a little Christmas miracle for Teckels Animal Sanctuaries and we are grateful for the organisers time each year.”
From Stroud Times 2023. The tidy up!
‘Five Valleys Wombles’ came out in force today to help take the decorations down from the dog tree on Rodborough Common, which is decorated each Christmas so people can remember their pet friends
“We worked hard to make sure all the little bits were picked up off the ground too so no tinsel, string or broken baubles left to spoil the Common,” said Karin Ayres.
“A big thank you to Heather Taylor, Shaun Morgan, Nadine Constant, Annabel Lewis and Jill Oberlin-Harris for their time and energy, and special thanks to Annabel for helping me carry the heavy ornament box back to my car,” added Karin.
The food, treats and money donated at the tree will be given to Teckels animal sanctuary at Whitminster.
From Teckels Animal Sanctuaries Facebook page, 2023:
A huge thankyou to everyone who has left donations at the Memorial Tree on Rodborough Common. This year we have been overwhelmed by your generosity. It is only possible though due to the kindness of Liz and Sam giving up their time on a daily basis to collect the items. A little request from them please is that all heavy items like large bags of food and trays of tins please be taken directly to Teckels and if you would like to make a donation please use the QR code if possible. Happy Christmas everyone 
From Stroud News & Journal all the way back in 2009!
Teckels receives mountain of donations from Rodborough dog walkers
STAFF at Teckels Animal Sanctuary are busy taking stock of a mountain of pet treats donated to the shelter by generous dog walkers on Rodborough Common.
As well as more than 230 tins of dog and cat grub and over 70 tasty treats, supporters pledged almost £400 in cash and cheques.
The sanctuary can also take advantage of more than £320 which has been paid into the charity’s account at pet supply specialists John Stayte Services in Doctor Newtons Way.
Other donations left under the Rodborough dog tree over the Christmas period include 26 large boxes and bags of food, 15 new toys and leads and numerous towels and bedding sheets.
Julia Winters, animal welfare officer at Teckels, said: “We want to say a big thank you to all the dog walkers on the common.
“The response was incredible – it is so nice to see so many care about the animals and really want to support us.”
Earlier this month the SNJ reported on the shelter’s plight after so many dogs were dumped there in the run-up to Christmas, including German Spitz Honey Bunny, seven, and Jake, six.
To Read all these articles:
https://stroudtimes.com/paws-for-thought-at-the-christmas-dog-tree/
https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/17327079.stunning-photo-captures-years-festive-dog-tree/
Twelfth Night, and time for the Rodborough dog tree to be ‘undressed’