Brace yourselves: Christmas is coming. The John Lewis advert is out, twinkly lights have been hoisted up in shopping centres and sales of Brussels sprouts are soaring. The scrooges among us will inevitably want to avoid the C word for as long as possible, but for those who want to get in the spirit, real Christmas trees are the way to do it. They might be messier than their artificial counterparts, but there is something about the smell of fresh pine needles that just can’t be beaten. Here’s where to get yours.
1. Kilted Christmas Tree, Balado
Tillyochie Farm, Balado, Kinross, Scotland
01577 865 500
Open from 30th November, 9am-7pm every day
www.kiltedchristmastree.co.uk
It might be best known as the former site of the T in the Park festival, but the Kinross-shire village of Balado also has an impressive Christmas tree farm. The Kilted Christmas Tree Company is a family business that has been growing trees for over a decade – with the owners taking pride in caring and harvesting their trees to the highest possible standard. They have a range of Norway spruce, Nordman fir, Fraser fir and Blue spruce real trees, as well as artificial trees and a collection of fresh fir wreaths. And, if you opt for the artificial tree but still want the sense of a real one, they also offer ‘Scentsicles’ scented ornaments: fir-flavoured sticks that can be hung on Christmas trees or dotted around your home.
2. Ikea
Stores in Glasgow (99 Kings Inch Drive), Edinburgh (Costkea Way, Loanhead) and an order and collection point in Aberdeen (Wellington Circle, Aberdeen)
Open Monday-Friday, 10am-9pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-7pm (Glasgow and Edinburgh) and Monday- Friday, 9.30am-8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm (Aberdeen)
020 3645 0000
www.ikea.com/gb/en
The gargantuan warehouse of an Ikea store doesn’t exactly scream ‘authentic Christmas’, but the chain offers an excellent deal on Christmas trees. If you buy their £25 Nordmann fir Christmas tree between 22nd November and 24th December, you get a £20 voucher which can then be redeemed in store between 14th January and 3rd March 2019. In essence, you therefore get a locally sourced, authentic tree for a very reasonable £5. They also offer an array of reasonably priced decorations, and even a mini 21-inch artificial tree for those short on space.
3. Crimbo Trees, Edinburgh
The Jenners Depository, 140 Balgreen Rd, Edinburgh
0131 346 9539
Open from Saturday 1st December: Monday-Wednesday, 12pm- 6pm, Thursday-Saturday, 10am-8pm and Sunday, 10am- 6pm.
www.crimbotrees.co.uk
Crimbo Trees specialise in growing Nordmann firs, a glossy dark green tree that takes up to 10 years to grow to the ideal height of seven-foot. Their trees are grown in Scotland and sold from the Jenners Depository in Edinburgh – although those living in the EH1, EH2, EH3, EH4, EH11 and EH12 can get their trees delivered to their door. In a scheme that really captures the Christmas spirit, the firm also donates £5 from every tree that they sell to Maggie’s cancer centre in Edinburgh, with last year’s sales enabling them to donate the equivalent of more than one day’s running costs to the centre. And, if you are concerned about the environmental impact of your tree, their website also offers detailed advice on how to recycle a tree and put the waste to good use.
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4. Buchlyvie Christmas Tree Farm
Christmas Tree Farm, Wester Auchentroig, Buchlyvie, Stirling
07710579752
Open from Saturday 1st December, 9am-5pm every day
www.dufftrees.co.uk
The star attraction at the Buchlyvie farm is their ‘cut your own tree’ service, where you are given the chance to roam their 300-acre farm to choose the one that is perfect for you, and then saw it down. On arrival you are given a pair of thick work gloves, a saw and a mini square of carpet to kneel on, but it is a working farm so wearing welly boots and practical clothing is essential. The trees – which include Nordman firs, Fraser firs, Lodgepole pines and Norway spruces – are pruned twice a year to give them their shape, and the team at the farm will also help to net your tree and load it into your car. But if all that seems like too much hassle, they do also offer pre-cut trees complete with stands that can simply be collected and taken away.
5. Scottish Christmas Trees, Dumfries
Glaister Farms, Glaisters, Kirkgunzeon, Dumfries
01387 760 572/01387 760 589
Open from Friday 30th November, 9.30am-5.30pm every day
www.scottishchristmastrees.co.uk
Despite having nearly half a million trees on their farm, Scottish Christmas Trees ensure that each tree is quality-checked and graded by two staff members before it’s sold. You can go direct to the farm to pick up your tree, but if you don’t live in the area (or can’t face getting pine needles all over your car) then they offer a UK-wide online delivery service that can be used right up until the 19th December. The firm also sells a range of handmade fir wreaths.
6. Black Isle Christmas Trees, Inverness
Drumsmittal Farm, North Kessock, Inverness (also Morrisons on Millburn Road, Inverness)
07796 662256
Open from 30th November at the farm, and 1st December at Morrisons, 9am-5pm every day (but can stay open later if they know a customer is coming)
www.bichristmastrees.co.uk
If you want a Christmas tree that has a wow factor then Black Isle should be the place – offering trees of eight feet upwards that are sure to impress your guests (provided that you can fit one into your house in the first place). As well as cut trees, they offer ones grown in pots, along with stands and lights.
7. Xmas Trees Glasgow
Unit 2 Drakemire Business Park, 179 Drakemire Drive, Castlemilk, Glasgow
07833 457802 or 07909 561726
Open Monday- Sunday, 10am-5.30pm to view trees
www.xmastreesglasgow.co.uk
Offering free delivery in the Glasgow area, Xmas Trees Glasgow aims to take all of the hassle out of Christmas tree shopping. Their website offers clear descriptions (and pictures) of each type of tree to make it easier to pick the one that is right for you, and they also have a tree collection and disposal service for when your tree’s duties are over in January.
8. Ben Reid Garden Centre, Aberdeen
Countesswells Road, Aberdeen
01224 318744
Trees available from 30th November, open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 10am-5pm
www.ben-reid.co.uk
Seeing a tree under netting doesn’t always give the best idea of what it will look like when you get it home. But at Ben Reid Garden Centre the trees are displayed unwrapped, in a dry shed that keeps you away from the elements and the winter weather. Once you have chosen the one you want, they can wrap it back up and carry it to your car, and they also offer a delivery service during the week.
9. Tayside Forestry
Templeton Christmas Tree Farm, Templeton Road, Strathmartine, Dundee
01382 581521
Open from the end of November, 10am-7pm every day
www.taysideforestry.co.uk
Supplying to wholesalers, retail businesses and the public, Tayside Forestry certainly know a thing or two about Christmas trees. The firm started as a small nine acre holding, before making the most of the demand for ‘farm fresh’ Christmas trees and expanding into a 500-acre site- where they are now members of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association. Visitors can pick up a tree from their extensive range of firs and spruces, and then relax with a warm drink in the on-site Pinewood Cafe.
10. Caring Christmas Trees
Various locations including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife
0345 111 8733
www.caringchristmastrees.com
Christmas is often a time of excess and indulgence, so it can be nice to give back to the community and help those who face hardship during the festive period. Caring Christmas Trees lets you do just that, using money from the trees they sell to support more than 7,000 people with problems with homelessness and addictions. You can order a tree from their website and arrange to pick it up at one of their various collection points across the central belt, adding a stand and an additional donation if you wish.
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