Saturday, 3 December 2016

Forestry Commission England’s guide to choosing the perfect Christmas tree!

Choosing your Christmas tree is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the festive season, but other than the size, what are the things to consider when buying your tree? 

We have been invited to Delamere Forest tomorrow to choose our very own Christmas tree so the lovely folks at the Forestry Commission have kindly shared some of their top tips for choosing the perfect Christmas tree match this festive season. 


How to choose your perfect Christmas Tree

Norway spruce


The Norway spruce is the traditional Christmas tree – it’s known for:
·         A wonderful shape and an abundance of branches – great for hanging lots of decorations!

·         A lovely ‘Christmassy’ scent that's perfect at this time of year

·         Being a little sharp and spikey to touch

Who does it suit?

With a long lasting scent and a traditional shape, Norway spruce are perfect for those who appreciate the classic look and smell of Christmas.

Tips

It’s best to buy your Norway Spruce nearer to Christmas as it can lose its needles quite quickly once brought indoors. To help your spruce retain its needles for longer, keep it away from the radiator and ensure it’s watered every day.


Nordmann fir


The Nordmann fir is the most popular Christmas tree in Europe – it’s known for:
·         Having soft foliage and an even shape – making it a joy to decorate!

·         Glossy, dark green needles that have a whitish/light blue underside

·         Strong branches, which are great for hanging those big glass decorations

Who does it suit?

With its big needles which are lovely and soft, Nordmann fir are perfect for those with young children.

Tips

The top quality Nordmann fir can be quite a wide tree, so you will need reasonable space to show it off to its best. For a 6ft tall tree allow approximately 5ft space.

Lodgepole pine


The Lodgepole pine looks best in a big space with high ceilings – it’s known for:
·         It's bushy appearance and luscious long green needles

·         Branches that point upwards

·         That wonderful pine scent

·         It's great needle retention, which makes it a long lasting tree

Who does it suit?

With the best needle retention of them all, Lodgepole pines are perfect for those who like to decorate their tree and little earlier and don’t want Christmas to end.

Tips

The long needles on Lodgepole pines draw attention to any decorations. More is definitely more with this tree!

Real v’s fake Christmas trees


Being experts in trees, woodland and sustainable forestry, Forestry Commission England’s real Christmas trees are so good, even Santa has given his stamp of approval. But why buy real?

Real trees use 10 times fewer materials and five times less energy than artificial trees. And they are completely biodegradable.
Forestry Commission England only sell trees that are grown in the UK in a well-managed way and more trees are planted each year than harvested. This year, you can even plant your own!

Every tree sold will come with a free baby sapling, allowing you to plant and grow you own real Christmas tree for the future.

It will also come with a certificate of authenticity to guarantee the trees quality, which will be signed by Santa himself.

There is also so much more to offer than just buying a tree. Many of the Forestry Commission England sales centres offer a whole Christmas experience including a Santa’s grotto and a whole range of activities for both little and big kids to get into the festive spirit!

To find your nearest centre, purchase a 100% Santa approved Christmas tree online or check out top tree tips on keeping your tree fresh and healthy over the festive holidays visit www.forestry.gov.uk/christmas




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