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A Christmas tree is the focal point
of every family’s Christmas, filling the house with scent and
providing a place to gather your presents.
So how do you ensure that
you buy the perfect tree, one that is going to last the whole
festive period?
The Forestry Commission sells more
than 100,000 Christmas trees nationally every year.
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Fraser Bradbury, forester with the Forestry Commission in
Peterborough, has come up with his top tips to make sure your tree
not only looks good, but also lasts!
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Stand the tree in a bucket of water and keep in a cool place, such
as a garage or shed, until ready to take indoors for decorating.
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Gently shake the tree to remove
any loose needles before taking it indoors
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When you are ready to decorate
the tree, cut off at least an inch from the bottom of its trunk -
this will encourage it to draw up water
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Pot the tree with the trunk
immersed in water - many garden centres sell special stands designed
to do this
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Don’t use sand or soil in the
tree stand as they restrict water from being drawn up into the trunk
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Stand the tree in the coolest
part of the room, ideally next to a window and away from radiators
and fires
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Remember to top up the tree stand
with water every day, an average Christmas tree can 'drink' as much
as a pint of water a day.
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Each tree has up to around
150,000 needles. You don’t want those on your floor! The Forestry
Commission sells Nordman Fir trees which are specially bred to keep
their needles longer.
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To maintain your green
credentials, buy trees that come from a sustainable source: for
instance all Forestry Commission Christmas trees are grown specially
to be sold during the festive season. When they are cut, they are
between six and ten years old - and for every tree cut the
Commission plants at least another two.
This year you can buy
Christmas trees from the Forestry Commission’s visitor centres.
Fraser said: “The Forestry Commission only sell the very best real
Christmas trees, competitively priced and specially grown and
selected to our high quality standards. Every care is taken to
ensure that a tree you buy from the Forestry Commission is as
healthy and fresh as possible.”
If you collect your Christmas tree
over the weekend of December 12-13 from the Top Lodge centre at Fineshade you can enjoy the Fineshade Medieval Festival, with an
array of medieval re-enactments and entertainment.
The Medieval weekend is also the
perfect place to pick up an unusual Christmas gift, with a range of
Christmas and medieval craft stalls selling gifts and decorations.
For the person who has everything, why not buy them an annual
‘discovery’ pass for the Forestry Commission’s car parks in
Northamptonshire so they can park their cars to enjoy the local
woods for free all year round. Discovery passes can be bought from
Forestry Commission visitor centres and also online at
www.forestry.gov.uk/pass.
Events at Top Lodge, Fineshade
December 1 - Christmas Eve
Free Christmas trails are available
throughout the festive season by collecting instructions from the
visitors’ centre at Fineshade.
December 12 – 13: Festive Medieval
Weekend
Activities include a free prize draw, singing bird tombola,
archery games and much more. With entertainment from Companions of
the Crow medieval re-enactors, Medieval displays and Longbow
demonstrations. Trolls Bottom Bar will also offer a selection of
meads, mulled wines and ale.
Events at Bourne Wood, Kesteven
Forest
December 13: Santa in Bourne Woods
Children can meet Santa. Santa will
be in the woods from 11am to 3pm. There will also be a selection of
craft stalls and activities, and refreshments will be available too.
December 2009 -
Peterborough UK Community Website
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