Downing Street switch-on celebrates British Growers
A 19-foot Nordmann Fir from Britain’s champion Christmas tree grower has taken pride of place outside No 10 Downing Street in celebration of the dedicated craftsmanship of British growers.
The towering and beautifully decorated fir was lit up by the Prime Minister at a switch-on celebration today (Thursday 2nd December) to herald the countdown to Christmas.
Evergreen Christmas Trees, a family-run business based on the Welsh border, provided the Downing Street Christmas tree this year after being named Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year in an annual competition run by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA).
Stephen Reynolds from Evergreen Christmas Trees, who have been growing Christmas trees since 1992 said: “Supplying the tree that stands outside Number 10 is a tremendous honour and a wonderful opportunity to showcase the dedication, craftsmanship, and commitment of British Christmas tree growers. Knowing our tree will be admired outside this iconic landmark by so many, we’ve taken great care in selecting the perfect tree for this special occasion.”
The No 10 Christmas tree was decorated by Jane and Rebecca Ingram of The Tree Barn, Watlington, Oxfordshire and Charlotte Gilbert of Woods Barn / Wood Farm Christmas Trees, Solihull.
The wreath on Downing Street’s famous black door was provided by Santa Trees from Cornwall, who clinched the title of Champion Festive Wreath in the BCTGA competition. Their wreath has a traditional red and gold Christmas theme using a base of their own grown Noble Fir.
The runner up of this year’s Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year, Cadeby Tree Trust from Warwickshire, has supplied Christmas trees for inside No 10, whilst Hans Christmas Anderson, Surrey, has supplied trees to decorate the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) after winning the BCTGA’s Photo of the Year.
Russell Parkins, Chair of BCTGA said: “We are delighted to have British-grown Christmas trees on display at Downing Street as well as the finest handcrafted wreath as a national showcase of our excellence as an industry. We hope it serves as a reminder to the nation to source their real Christmas tree locally from one of our 300-plus members across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
“Congratulations to our champion growers, whose hard work on carefully managed plantations provides the perfect centrepieces for millions of families nationwide.”
The British Christmas Tree Growers Association is managed by farming charity, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.