Tree mendous!

Having spent more than 25 years in the gas supply industry, I needed a retirement project and bought my plantation at Foresters Court, Brilley, Whitney-on-Wye, three years ago.

Christmas trees had been grown here for many years, but the site had been severely neglected and was an impenetrable jungle.

Armed only with loppers, secateurs, and a lot of determination, my wife Sue and I have transformed the 10-acre site into a neat and tidy plantation, planting an additional 5,000 trees for the future.

The trees take at least eight years to grow before harvesting. Christmas trees may be only used in the home for a couple of weeks each year, but it takes the growers all 52 weeks of the year to maintain them in peak condition.

The most popular is still the traditional Norway Spruce, sometimes criticised as prone to needle-drop but, if the tips listed here are followed, this should be minimal.

Also popular is the Noble Fir, bluey/green in colour and not the same conical shape as the Norway Spruce, but having a wonderful scent, no needle-drop, and very long-lasting.

This tends to be more expensive than other varieties as it takes twice as long to grow. Another favourite is the Nordmann Fir, much lighter in colour, with soft needles but good lateral branches for hanging decorations and lights.

The Fraser Fir is a newer variety, thinner in growth, good needle-retention and a pleasant smell but it can be sticky with resin.

Blue Spruce is similar in shape but different in colour to the Norway Spruce, the needles are quite sharp, not suitable for young children but excellent if you have a cat or dog that likes to climb! Scots Pine and Lodgepole Pine are more popular in the north of the UK. There are many other, lesser-known varieties of fir used for Christmas trees, with different shapes and attributes: check with your local grower for price and avaiability.

Real Christmas trees are the environmentally-friendly option. They readily absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, releasing oxygen and storing carbon in the form of timber.

One acre of Christmas trees produces the daily requirement of oxygen for 18 people and, while growing, each tree absorbs carbon dioxide given off by cars and aeroplanes.

It is estimated that 30 million real Christmas trees are growing in the UK. They are absorbing more than 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Real Christmas trees also provide a vital refuge for wildlife, as visitors to our Brilley plantation can see. Once Christmas is over, the trees can be recycled and converted into other products.

British growers now follow a strict code of practice ensuring high standards of environmental care and are regulated by their own British Christmas Tree Growers Association.

The seed is selected from sustainable sources. For every tree that is cut a new tree is planted. Planted areas are surveyed for their environmental, ecological, and archaeological impact. The trees are regularly trimmed and pruned, and checked for disease, and insect damage.

Each year association members meet and compete for the best grown tree and the best design of decorated wreath. The winners have the honour of supplying the large tree outside 10 Downing Street and the wreath for that front door and, usually, get to meet one or more of the residents !

The decoration of trees outside has been a pagan practice to placate the Sylvan spirits since before recorded history.

The habit of bringing a tree into the house to be decorated at Christmas is quite recent.

In Germany it can be traced back to the beginning of the 17th century when, in 1605, an anonymous author wrote: "It is the custom at Strasburg to set up fir trees in the houses at Christmas and to decorate them with roses of coloured paper and apples."

This custom was next mentioned about 50 years later when theologian Professor Dannheur wrote: "Amongst the other absurdities which men are often busied at Christmas than with the word of God, there is the Christmas or fir tree, which they erect in their houses, hang with dolls and sweetmeats and then shake it and cause it to shed its 'flowers' - it is a children's game. Far better were it to lead the children to the spiritual Cedar, 'Christ Jesus'."

This was voiced by many priests, and was probably the reason for the slow spread of the habit throughout Germany, where it was not universal until the 19th century.

The Christmas tree was unknown in the United Kingdom until "Christbaum" was introduced by Prince Albert in 1841.

If you are opting for a real tree these are just a few tips for keeping it looking fresh throughout the Christmas season:

* Try and buy your tree from a local UK source, look for the BCTGA logo, thereby guaranteeing it is recently harvested and not imported.

* Before you buy your tree check that it looks fresh, healthy, and dark green in colour. Once at home, place it in a bucket with plenty of water (preferably outside) until you are ready to use it.

* Tap the base of the tree on the ground outside before you bring it in to shake off any loose needles and saw one inch off the bottom to allow it to take up the maximum amount of water.

* Place your tree in a cool spot away from a radiator in a bucket with some stones, or buy a proper stand, and fill with two pints of water. Ensure the water stays topped up - you will be surprised how much it will use.

Sue and John Munday have more than 5,000 trees, from 1.5 metres to 10 metres tall, and grow five different varieties.

Festive Forestry is 30 minutes by car from the centre of Hereford and open during daylight hours through December until mid-day Christmas Eve. Visitors can wander through the plantation, select their own tree and then watch it being cut, wrapped, and loaded into their vehicle ensuring it is at the peak of freshness. You can dig your own tree with roots providing you bring your own tools, or if time and convenience are at a premium, select a fresh pre-cut tree.

You can also consider pre-selecting and marking a tree early in December for cutting nearer to Christmas.

Telephone 01497 831268. www.festiveforestry.co.uk