St. Petersburg selects most creative eco-Christmas trees

The Directorate of Specially Protected Natural Areas of St. Petersburg has announced the winners of the 'EcoYolka-2026' competition. The top prize went to a homemade creation from Pushkin.

Feb 6, 2026

The winning fabric Christmas tree decorated with handmade toys, submitted by Oksana from Pushkin.
Source:
Oksana Evgrafova / Protected Nature of St. Petersburg

The results of the creative competition «EcoYolka-2026» were summarized on January 23. The competition featured photographs of artificial New Year trees, including author«s works made by hand.

Nikolai«s second-place spruce made from eight wood species and adorned with decorative candles.
Source:
Nikolai Abramov / Protected Nature of St. Petersburg

The jury evaluated the originality, creative approach, and description of the submitted works. A separate audience choice prize was awarded to the participant who received the most likes.

One of the third-place entries, a Christmas tree crafted from threads for the eco-competition.
Source:
Evgenia Levina / Protected Nature of St. Petersburg

The winner was a fabric spruce decorated with homemade toys and attached to a window. Its author, Oksana from the city of Pushkin, noted that the decoration has been delighting her family for the third year.

A wooden spruce made by a nine-year-old child, sharing third place in the contest.
Source:
Elena Ivanova / Protected Nature of St. Petersburg

«The tree is decorated every year with toys made by the children themselves. This emphasizes the importance of caring for nature and develops the creative abilities of the kids,» she wrote in the photo description.

Dmitry«s artificial tree over 40 years old with Soviet-era toys, winner of the audience prize.
Source:
Dmitry Tchaica / Protected Nature of St. Petersburg

Second place was taken by a spruce assembled from round wood cuts and decorated with decorative candles. Its author, Nikolai, said that the structure is made from eight types of wood and has been accompanying him to various offices for over five years.

«Covered in oil, sweat, and blood. The candles on it will welcome the second New Year. I make it myself,» he shared at the end of December.

Third place was shared by two works: a tree woven from threads and a wooden spruce made by a nine-year-old child.

The winner of the audience choice prize was a spruce decorated with, among other things, Soviet toys. The photo author, Dmitry, reported that this artificial tree is over 40 years old.

«The tree is over 40 years old, it«s older than me. Every year it was taken out of the box, assembled, and dressed up. It was manufactured according to the OST standard of 1975,» he said.

All prize-winners and winners will receive commemorative gifts. Earlier in Pushkin, a winner was also determined in the competition for the best New Year decoration of an apartment building or courtyard.