The UK’s biggest Christmas tree farm – sells 100,000 every year | UK | News

While many families across the UK are celebrating the start of the festivities by planting a Christmas tree, one of the country’s largest tree farms has revealed some top tips on choosing and caring for the perfect one, from the best type of tree to withstand December’s cold weather to the ideal spot to place it at home and a common mistake you should avoid.

Yattendon Estate has been growing Christmas trees on 300 acres of stunning countryside in West Berkshire since the 1960s. With just under a million trees in the ground, the family business sells up to 100,000 trees a year from its farms and also supplies major chains such as Lidl, Tesco and garden centers across the UK.

James Hole, managing director of Yattendon Estate, said: “I would recommend buying early, preferably now, because then you get your pick of the best. “But don’t put it off until the first week of December, because the longest a real Christmas tree will survive is three weeks and you want to enjoy it on the big day.

“Never place your Christmas tree near a radiator or any heat source. A cold spot inside your home is the best place to put it, as the heat will cause the tree to dry out and lose the needles prematurely, but I understand that the coldest part of the house may not be the best place to enjoy and appreciate the tree.”

He recommended cutting the base of the tree again before planting it, because a new cut means it will be easier for the trunk to absorb water.

“If you’re buying early and plan to wait until mid-December to plant, keep the Christmas tree in water for two to three weeks. When you finally plant it, fill a stand with water and submerge the trunk, making sure to fill it up once a week,” James explained.

“For a tree that will last until December, you want a thicker wood like Nordmann Fir. It is great at retaining needles, so that is the variety you should go for.

“Many customers prefer the traditional and more authentic Nordmann Spruce. However, although beautiful, this tree species sheds needles easily and should not be planted more than a week before Christmas.”

A team of 30 farmers works year-round to grow and care for the trees. Birds can pose a constant threat to their growth; so the crew places bird sticks to prevent birds from landing on the fragile leader at the top of the tree. This allows customers to have a place to display their chosen star or angel ornaments.

Six- to seven-foot trees tend to be the most popular choice for families. James recalled: “I’d hear people come in and pick out their trees and then say ‘whoops… how are we going to take this home?’ You see them thinking. Some families will bring two cars, one for the family and one for the tree. We’ve had a situation a few times where customers forget to tie their tree to the top of the car and drive away, forgetting it’s there. “It tends to slide out quite quickly and the driver jumps out to pick it up.”

Once home safely, decorating the tree is often a way for many families to mark the beginning of the festivities in their own homes. “I personally love the warm white approach to decorations. Others may prefer more jazzy lights. Everyone has their own interpretation, some say less is more, others decorate from head to toe, it’s all part of the fun,” said James.

While collecting a Christmas tree has become an annual tradition that many families look forward to, it can easily turn into a competition to find the best one.

James explained: “People definitely get competitive. I’ve seen lots of heated arguments when families want the same tree. This usually happens towards the end of the season, in the run-up to Christmas when options are limited. Families will argue with other families about who spotted the tree first. Luckily most people find a way to work it out and we’ve never had to intervene.”

“I’ve even seen them argue within the same family or between siblings and say that the tree they chose was better than the one another family member chose. There’s usually a lot of parental diplomacy involved.”

Since Christmas trees take seven to 10 years to grow, the trees families are collecting now must have started growing again between 2015 and 2018. Farmers working the land are currently planting and harvesting trees on an impressive 300 acres that customers can choose from in seven years or ten years.