Written by Carly Freestone | 5th December 2024
Heading out to buy a real Christmas tree marks the beginning of the festive period for many of us. For decades, the traditional Christmas tree in Britain has been the heavily scented Norway spruce, although in the last few years, sales of ‘non-drop’ varieties such as the Nordmann Fir, Fraser Fir and Blue Spruce have started to overtake it in popularity.
To be environmentally friendly, it is always best to buy locally. Here’s our guide to some of the best local traders selling trees across our region:
BEDFORDSHIRE
West End Farm, Stagsden, MK43 8SZ
For over 30 years this farm in Stagsden has grown and sold premium Christmas Trees. Located on the Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire border between Bedford and Milton Keynes, this is farm is part of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association. They also sell stylish decorations in their converted stables and walled Victorian gardens and offer free delivery on orders over £50.
www.stagsdenchristmastrees.co.uk
Badger Hill Christmas Tree Farm, Maulden, Bedfordshire, MK45 2AD
This family-farm has been growing crops in the heart of central Bedfordshire for over a century and is now a proud member of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association. You can walk through the plantations and choose a tree which you can even fell yourself, and which can be netted for transportation. All sizes of trees are available, along with a selection of stands and holly wreaths.
https://www.badgerhillchristmastreefarm.co.uk/
Frosts Garden Centre, Willington, MK44 3QP
Based in Sandy, Frosts has been a central part of local communities for over 75 years and has become synonymous with quality and style in gardening. The garden centre offers a vast range of artificial Christmas trees to suit all styles and tastes, from the classic green spruce to the snowy effect trees offering the 'straight from the mountain' look. A Santa’s Grotto experience is available to book for small children and takes about 45 minutes. You can also find a Frosts Garden Centre in Woburn Sands
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Welford Christmas Tree Farm, NN6 6JF
A member of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, this family run farm on the border between Northamptonshire and Leicestershire has been growing and supplying real Christmas trees to customers for over 20 years. Along with 60,000 trees, there is also a sparkly shop and café, Santas’s Grotto, and reindeer, making choosing the tree a festive day out for all the family. It does get busy so you’ll need to a book a time slot for visiting at the weekend.
www.welfordchristmastreefarm.co.uk
Evenley Christmas Trees, Evenley, NN13 5SG
Locally grown Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes are available every day in the car park of The Red Lion pub in the village of Evenley. Choose your tree and then enjoy refreshments in the pub by the roaring log fire over-looking the village green.
Bell Plantation Garden Centre and Café, Towcester NN12 6GX
Based in Towcester, this garden centre offers a range of fresh, British-grown Christmas trees, including Nordmann and Fraser Firs. They also have a delivery service available.
Boughton House, Kettering NN14 1BJ
Boughton House, the Northamptonshire home of the Duke of Buccleuch, sells premium British-grown Nordmann Fir Christmas trees, alongside handmade wreaths, tree stands, decorations, and gifts. Visitors can choose from a variety of the trees, known for their needle retention, from 4ft to 9ft. Smaller, potted options are also available.
HERTFORDSHIRE
Bannock Christmas Trees, Hitchin
Open from now until Christmas Day, Lannock Manor Farm is the place to find a freshly cut, Hertfordshire-grown tree. The family-run farm is in the village of Weston and its trees are freshly cut in the Chiltern Hills. Staff will help you make your selection and delivery is available. The farm is open from 10am to 7pm weekdays and 10am to 5pm weekends.
Chesham Christmas Tree Farm, Chesham
Located on the main A416 road between Chesham and Amersham, this family-run farm has been growing Christmas trees for 28 years and plants at least one new tree for every one sold. Festive lights and tree stands are available to buy too and they’re open seven days a week from late November until the end of December.
The Walled Garden, Standstead Bury Farm, Stanstead Abbots
Eco-enthusiasts will love this sustainable way of doing Christmas which involves ‘renting’ a tree from the Walled Garden farm. It will be delivered to your door with its roots still attached and then collected and replanted after the holidays ready to rent again the following year. This year the trees are still growing and most of them are 3-4ft. tall.
Hatfield Christmas Trees, Hatfield House
From budget trees to potted trees and traditional firs, you’ll find them here. You can choose and take away or get free local delivery. Trees are all shapes and sizes and cater for all price ranges, starting from £20 upwards. Open seven days a week right up to Christmas Eve from 9am to 8pm.
www.hatfieldchristmastrees.co.uk
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Thrift Wood, Whaddon, Milton Keynes MK17 0EQ
Thrift Wood Christmas Trees is a family run business that has been part of the local community for decades. Set in a 75-acre woodland on the edge of Milton Keynes, all the trees are British-grown. There is a Christmas Cabin on site too selling Christmas wreaths and festive gifts.
Now in its twentieth year, this Christmas tree farm near Newport Pagnell invites you to pick your tree straight from the field. Freshly cut, they net them and help you load on to the car.
www.stokegoldingtonchritsmastrees.co.uk
WARWICKSHIRE
Warwickshire Christmas Trees
Based near Shenington on the Warwickshire/Oxfordshire border, this family-run farm provides locally grown trees ranging from 3ft to 20ft tall, cut fresh from the field or potted. On arrival at the farm, you will be given a tree tag and a stapler. Nominate your favourite tree by tagging it, and one of the team will then bring it to the barn for trimming and netting. If you can return the tree to them after Christmas, they will chip it to make compost for the field.
Crocker’s Christmas Trees, Holt Road, Southam, CV47 1AJ
This small family business has been growing Christmas trees in the 8-acre field next to their house since 2000. They grow mainly Norway Spruce and Nordmann Firs but do have a few Blue Spruce to choose from. They plant 3000 new trees every year and have around 25,000 different trees of various shapes and sizes to fit every home.
www.crockerchristmastrees@hotmail.com
When buying, look for a tree with healthy needles that flex, rather than fall off when you touch them. As long as the tree is healthy when bought and well looked after, it should survive for four to six weeks, according to the British Christmas Tree Growers Association. And once you get your tree home, saw an inch off the bottom to remove any dried resin that will prevent water absorption, water it regularly, and ideally locate it away from radiators.
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