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The milk bottle igloo takes shape. Pictured with the igloo are teachers Samantha Smith (left) and Fiona Wallis with children from Apples Childcare Centre.
The idea of making Santa a grotto out of recycled 2-litre plastic milk bottles began on a small scale, with the igloo destined for inside one of Apples Childcare’s classrooms.
However, the project, dreamed up by teachers Samantha (Sam) Smith and Fiona Wallis, grew quickly along with enthusiasm from the children and their families.
When finished, the 3m x 2m grotto, now located outside Apples in Whangaparaoa, will include well over 1000 milk bottles, including hundreds of the black special edition (to create a doorway). Strings of lights and flooring will transform it into a magical place for children to tell Santa their Christmas dreams.
Sam and Fiona are both from England and wanted a Christmas grotto with a wintery feel. They saw an igloo made from milk bottles online, but putting it together proved a challenge and took many hours of work. The bottles donated by local cafés and takeaway outlets as well as families are held together with Liquid Nails and duct tape.
Bamboo framing was added as support after the structure collapsed at Labour Weekend.
Sam says that as well as playing host to Santa, the grotto will be used for fish and chip nights and for the children to play in.
Apples Childcare, 3 Poplar Lane, Whangaparaoa, will open the grotto so that the community can take a look on Tuesday, December 1, from 10am–6pm. There will also be an Open Day on Sunday, December 13, 10am–2pm.
