Christmas tree boss denounces fake versions

The head of Britain’s Christmas tree-growing industry has likened artificial versions to “toilet brushes” and claimed they are damaging to the environment.

Roger Hay, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, admitted sales of real trees are likely to fall this year as a result of Britain’s worsening economy.

But he insisted they look better and cause less damage to the environment than “junk food” artificial trees, particularly as they can be recycled into compost.

One in three of Britain’s 25million households – around 8million – bought a real tree last year.

But 25 per cent price rises because of import costs and the pound’s weakness mean real trees cost up to £40 this Christmas, compared with less than £10 for a fake one.

Source: The Telegraph

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The Tallest Christmas Tree in England

Work has got under way to decorate a giant Redwood tree with 1,800 lights at Kew’s country garden in West Sussex. The 100ft Redwood at Wakehurst Place is said to be the UK’s tallest Christmas tree - and when lit up is visible from the sky on flights to Gatwick Airport.

Expert tree climbers were scaling the tree with ropes and high-level platforms from 0730 GMT on Wednesday. James Pumfrey, from the conservation and woodland unit, said work would take most of the day to complete.

Mr Pumfrey is one of a team of arborists who look after trees around the 500 acre estate near Haywards Heath. He said: “Stringing up 1,800 Christmas lights is a bit different to our normal work, and it always marks the start of the build-up to Christmas here at Wakehurst.

“The tree is a local landmark which can be seen for miles when the lights are switched on and it is great to be part of this festive tradition.”

The energy-saving lightbulbs will be tested on Wednesday and will be officially lit up on 28 November.

source: The BBC

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Drought down under!

A particularly dry summer this year has left Sydney, Australia with a huge shortage of real Christmas Trees as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald today.

With the Christmas tree season beginning this weekend, growers have reported that their crops would be up to 75% smaller than previous years due to the dry conditions over the last year.

The Aussie phrase “up the gumtree” springs to mind! 

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