Written by Lisa Proffitt | 8th December 2023
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:
Portly Ford Farm, Welford, 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 shop and café, Santas’s Grotto and real live 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. New for 2023, there is also the option of booking tickets to see The Little Christmas Tree, a 30 minute play for young children performed in a giant tipi.
This year the farm have teamed up with Cynthia Spencer Hospice to offer Christmas tree recycling in certain areas. To get your tree recycled and donate to a great charity, visit https://welfordchristmastreefarm.co.uk/pages/tree-recycling.
Evenley, Brackley, NN13 5SG
Locally grown Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes are available every day in the car park of The Red Lion public house 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.
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.
Kettering, NN14 1BJ
Every year, Grade I listed Boughton House runs their annual Christmas Tree sale, plus refreshments are on offer along with a Christmas market selling decorations, wreaths and gifts. Visitors can also enjoy a stroll around the landscaped gardens and parkland for a touch of extra Christmas magic.
Weston, Hitchin SG4 7EE
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 located 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.
Amersham Road, Chesham HP5 1NE
With thousands of freshly Christmas trees to choose from, this family-run farm has been growing Christmas trees for 28 years and plants at least one new tree for every one sold. Choose which tree and staff will wrap and net it for you and help carry it to your car. Festive lights and tree stands are available to buy in the shop. Open seven days a week from late November until the end of December.
Standstead Bury Farm, Stanstead Abbots
Eco-enthusiasts will love this sustainable way of doing Christmas. This genius idea 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 House, AL9 5HX
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 available all shapes and sizes and to fit all price ranges, starting from £20 upwards. Open seven days a week right up to Christmas Eve from 9am to 8pm.
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 and on the Christmas Cabin you can find Christmas wreaths and festive gifts for friends and family of all ages.
Stoke Lodge Farm, MK16 8LW
For the nineteenth year, this Christmas tree farm near Newport Pagnell invites you to pick your tree straight from the field, before they cut them down, wrap them up and help you put your new fir in the car. After almost two decades in the industry, there’s very little that the Stoke Goldington crew doesn’t know about Christmas trees, so you’re in safe hands.
West End Farm, Stagsden, MK43 8SZ
For over 30 years this farm in Stagsden has grown and sold 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.
Maulden, Bedfordshire, MK45 2AD
This family-farm has been growing crops in 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.
Willington, MK44 3QP
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 huge 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
Kestrel Ridge, Shenington, OX15 6NP
Based near Shenington on the Warwickshire/Oxfordshire border, this family-run farm provides locally grown trees from 3ft to 20ft, 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 are able to return the tree to them after Christmas, they will chip it to make compost for the field.
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 size to fit every home.
When buying, look for a tree with healthy needles that flex, rather than fall off when you handle 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.