Chance to send letters to Santa in Glasswater Wood

Chance to send letters to Santa in Glasswater Wood

17 November 2021

EAGER children are visiting Glasswater Wood just outside Crossgar to post their Christmas letters to Santa Claus.

A new Santa Claus post box in the woods has become a destination for local families enjoying a country walk as their children’s excitement builds for the big day – with a promise that all letters will go to Lapland.

It’s the brainchild of local grandfather-of-four Michael McClements, who created the post box to entertain and please local children.

Michael, who runs McClements Construction of Crossgar, said he created the post box out of gas cylinders with help from several local businesses.

It’s his latest kind and generous gesture following his creation of wooden houses which he has put on various trees which tell the stories of the Gruffalo, The Three Little Pigs and other popular children’s stories.

Micheal explained: “I began to make the little houses for the entertainment of my grandchildren as something to do during the last lockdown and thought I would put them on the trees at Glasswater Wood. For many local families, getting out for a walk with the children was the only activity they could do at that time.

“My grandchildren really enjoyed seeing the little houses in the woods and they encouraged me to make more. I thought the Santa Claus post box would be good too and I’m glad to say that dozens of little children are already posting their letters into the box since it went up last week.”

Michael used old gas cylinders to make the Santa Claus head and body and a steel funnel for the hat.

He was helped by John Killen, of Abbeyview Engineering, who welded the pieces together, Kenny Martin, who shotblasted and painted it, and Philip Houston, of Get Noticed Signs, who did all the signs for the post box and the cartoon graphics for the boxes.

Michael said: “I have to thank everyone who helped me out and give of their time and work freely all in aid to help the children enjoy the woods and the run-up to Christmas.

“When I’m walking my grandchildren, they run from box to box and they love to see the fairy tales and I get as much out of it when I see other little children running along as well.

“I’m told by some other parents and grandparents that it used to be hard to get their children out for a walk and now they are being asked to go for a walk all the time. I’m delighted that all the children are enjoying this.”