ONE OF the festive season’s greatest joys is a family trip to a local Christmas tree retailer, to choose a real tree straight from the local farm.

“People come with their children, maybe have a coffee or breakfast and visit the gift shop and pet shop in our retail village – it’s a real day out,” explains Jason Rolland, owner of Real Christmas Trees Glasgow.

“There’s a lot of excitement, especially from the kids, who know they are going home to put this tree up and decorate it, it’s a really happy occasion.”

As well as creating magical memories, buying a real Christmas tree is good for the environment and often supports local, family run businesses like Real Christmas Trees Glasgow.

Jason started the company 20 years ago, as a way of supporting workers in his landscaping company.

“Over the winter, the boys didn’t have much work, so I thought about what I could do to keep everyone in a job, and I had the idea of Christmas trees,” he explains.

“That first year was a steep learning curve and since then, I have learned a lot. I’ve worked hard to build up the business ever since, and a good friend, Derek McEwan, who is CEO of the Catherine McEwan Foundation, helped me with the social media and website side of things to help spread the word.

“We have an excellent reputation now, and what’s important to us is that we only sell premium Scottish trees, we don’t buy cheaper, imported trees from the EU.”

Jason now runs the business with his daughters, Abbie, 22 and Emily, 16.

They are based in Huntershill retail village in Bishopbriggs, and all trees are sourced from Perthshire and Tayside. The company also sells beautiful festive wreaths.

“For every tree that gets cut down, two more are planted,” explains Jason. “Sustainability is important to us, and we are trying to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible.

“Our premium trees are also often cheaper than the ones being sold in the big stores, and because we deliver free to anywhere in the greater Glasgow area, we are helping to keep costs down even further.”

Jason adds: “Money is tight, especially at this time of year, so people want to make sure what they are spending it on is worth it. Through our website, people can order their trees now, then it’s just a case of coming out to pick up their tree or leaving us to choose a beautiful tree for you.”

Real Christmas trees make a beautiful festive centrepiece in your home, often evoking childhood memories, and according to the Carbon Trust, have significantly lower carbon footprints than artificial versions.

The two main types of low-needle-drop trees Jason supplies are Nordmann Firs and Fraser Firs.

Nordmann Fir is the most popular Christmas tree in the UK with lush, dark green needles and strong branches, while Fraser Firs have green needles which are silvery underneath, and have a strong fragrance.

“There is always a little bit of mess at the start, when you first bring the tree in to the house, and at the end, but with Nordmann and Fraser Firs, you’ll have next to no problems with needle drop throughout the season,” he says.

“A real Christmas tree will last around four to five weeks, if looked after properly.”

Looking after a real Christmas tree takes little effort, says Jason, and festive shoppers should not be put off by suggestions it is difficult or time-consuming, he says.

“You treat a real Christmas exactly like a bunch of flowers,” he adds, smiling.

“Cut the end off, put it in water and keep the water topped up, and keep it away from any heat source such as a radiator. Job done.”

Once the festive season is over, trees can be returned to Jason, as Real Christmas Trees Glasgow runs a recycling service. Once back in Bishopbriggs, they are chipped and mulched and taken back to the farm, to keep next season’s trees healthy.

There is always a real Christmas tree in Jason’s house, he says with a laugh.

“I love the whole Christmas razzamatazz,” he says. “It’s a great time of year, and as a business, we want to make it special for people.

“You get one shot at the big day itself, and we don’t want to mess it up for anyone by supplying a rubbish tree.”

The business prides itself on its excellent reputation, which is still going strong after 20 years.

“We have hundreds of repeat customers who come back year after year, which is really good for us, as that loyalty means a lot,” says Jason.

As an associate member of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, which is the industry watchdog, the company is a trusted supplier, says Jason.

“That’s important to us because everything we do is about giving our customers good service and keeping them happy,” he says.

“As a small family business, we provide a more personal touch than you might get in the bigger stores, and we are really passionate about that.”

He adds: “It’s hard, hard work in those few weeks before Christmas, but we’re doing what we love, so it is worth it.”

realchristmastreesglasgow.co.uk