National Tree Week began on Saturday 30 November, just as thoughts turn to the seasonal task of choosing your Christmas tree.
As always, it comes down to whether you pick a real tree or an artificial one. The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) is the organisation representing those who grow specialist Christmas trees in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and follows a code of practice to promote trees being grown in an environmental and sustainable manner for the customer.
The BCTGA is urging people to go natural and buy a real Christmas tree, as it has so many benefits to our environment.
According to their website, it is estimated that eight million real Christmas trees are bought every year in the UK. Studies have shown that a real tree is five times more environmentally friendly than an artificial one. One reason for this is that Christmas trees improve air quality. Every acre of Christmas trees grown produces the daily oxygen for 16 people and a hectare absorbs six tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
Artificial trees on the other hand are made of metal and plastics, typically PVC, and are non-biodegradable. Most are manufactured in the Far East, and importing them to the UK adds to the trees' carbon footprint.
Sarah Tuckey of Aqua Florist, who works with the BCTGA, said that when purchasing your Christmas tree you should avoid purchasing pre-netted trees as you won’t be able to see their shape or gauge how fresh they are. She said, "Wait until December to purchase so that it is as fresh as possible for the festive season.
"On arriving home, saw off half an inch from the bottom of the trunk, place the tree in a bucket of water and leave it outside until you are ready to decorate it.
"After Christmas it is important to recycle your tree – it can be chipped for use in parks and playgrounds."
