Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree

Using Christmas trees creatively will help drive visitors into towns and villages across the UK over the festive season, say the British Christmas Tree Growers Association and member Charlie Spurway who runs Country Business in Scotland, recommends the Norway Spruce as the perfect species to decorate large outdoor spaces.

Charlie has been providing Christmas trees for large scale displays up and down the UK from the Harburn Estate in Scotland.

Over 95 per cent of their Christmas trees are sold wholesale, including Nordman Fir, Fraser Fir, Norway Spruce and Lodgepole Pine.

But it’s the Norway Spruce which is recommended for local authorities to use thanks to their classical shape and affordability, according to Charlie.

“The Norway Spruce is not quite en vogue as it sheds its needles but it is perfect for outdoors, this is your best outdoor tree I would say. It is cost effective and it looks good!”

The affordability factor of Norway Spruces are also a big selling point as they have held their prices for the last few years because they have been in surplus, says Charlie.

Think originality

Councils are encouraged to come up with creative ways of showcasing their villages, towns and cities by thinking about decorating with Christmas trees on flower beds and lamp posts.

“I’d encourage councils to use Norways and use them creatively. Don’t just think of ground level, think also of putting them eight foot up. Put them over shops. What about the bedding plants in the summer? Could these be used for Christmas trees in the winter? It doesn’t have to be expensive. Put a pipe in the ground and put the tree into that and it’s not going anywhere. They can last year after year.

“We have supplied trees for a Christmas maze, for town centres and some of the best ideas are creative and they will bring the visitors in.

“You can place holders into the ground and bring in five-foot Norways into those and they will look great. I go down south for Christmas and drive through endless towns where my trees are. There was a guy in London who would buy eight-to-ten-foot Norways, cut them in half and put three around the lamp posts around 8 foot up. It made them look like one enormous tree.”

Buying bulk

Councils are encouraged to contact their local grower, through the British Christmas Tree Growers Association which has a wholesale list allowing customers to buy quality, British Christmas trees in bulk, easily.

The 2025 BCTGA Wholesale List has full details of the BCTGA’s UK-wide Member network of independent growers who supply cut and container grown trees, handmade festive wreaths, foliage and accessories to the wholesale market.

The chair of BCTGA Russell Parkins said: “Our Christmas tree plantations are an important part of the UK’s rural landscape, contributing to the overall biodiversity of arable areas. By buying a British-grown Christmas tree, customers are supporting not only local businesses but native wildlife and eco-systems.” The importance of Christmas tree plantations to both birds and mammals was highlighted by a recent biodiversity survey commissioned by the BCTGA. The research, carried out by industry experts, showed some fascinating results on the breadth and scope of native wildlife numbers and species found in Christmas Tree plantations.

Encouragingly this included a number of species which are under threat. Red Listed bird species – the highest conservation concern – were recorded nesting and foraging on the plantations, while they were also favoured by threatened mammals including the native red squirrel, bats, and harvest mice.

Christmas tree plantations are used by songbird and migratory bird populations for shelter and food sources, all are supported by a healthy balance of invertebrate species.

With the focus very much on our environmental impact, buying a real Christmas tree, bought locally not only has a low carbon footprint but during the 8-10 years it has taken to grow will have acted as a carbon sink, absorbing CO2, and releasing oxygen.

The BCTGA is dedicated to representing and actively supporting growers; whilst championing naturally, beautiful British Christmas trees.

With over 300 members who sell approximately 5 million trees per year, the BCTGA is the voice of the industry and has been since 1980.

Members of BCTGA receive a logo which is a “kite mark”, giving consumers confidence that they have bought a quality, local Christmas tree.

Buying from a British grower ensures customers have the freshest quality trees with the best scent.

To access the 2025 BCTGA Wholesale List, please click here. Species of Christmas trees include: Norway Spruce – Keep them well watered for good needle retention and enjoy this traditional Christmas tree which is dark green and has a strong fragrance along with a great conical shape.

Nordmann Fir – This is the most popular Christmas Tree in the UK as it has excellent needle retention, with lush, dark green needles. They are symmetrical trees with strong branches, great for displaying ornaments.

Fraser Fir – These trees have great fragrance with dark green, needles that are silvery underneath. Good needle retention and a pyramid-shaped, strong branches which turn upward.

Noble Fir – Ideal for great needle retention and a fresh fragrance. With bluish-green needles and short, stiff branches; great for heavier ornaments; keeps well.

Douglas Fir – Probably the strongest scent of all Christmas trees, very popular in the USA. A true fir with great shape but a little harder to decorate with baubles as usually much denser.

Blue Spruce – Beautiful, unique blue colouring, needs watering well and has good stiff branches, great for hanging heavy decorations. An ideal small or second tree.

Lodgepole Pine – A low needle-drop tree with beautiful tapering branches, that rarely lose their needles if well hydrated. The needles are green/yellow in colour. The traditionalist’s Christmas tree.

Serbian Spruce - Tall and slender, with graceful upswept branches. It has glossy dark green needles with slender streaks of white, a very good ornamental alternative.