Press Release 2009
The Christmas Forest |
| Tel Office: 0207 348 9080 |
| or contact Jo Human on 07956 561 749 for more information. |
| www.christmasforest.co.uk |
BUY A CHRISTMAS TREE AND PLANT A TREE IN ETHIOPIA.
This year make your Christmas tree count more than usual....If you live in or near London, you can buy a tree from The Christmas Forest - London's largest independent 'treetailer' with 7 sites across London. (Putney, Islington, Richmond, Kensal Green, Dulwich, Ealing and Stoke Newington).
Every Christmas tree you buy, a new tree is planted by Tree Aid (www.treeaid.org.uk) on the Forests for Food project in Ethiopia. The project works with some of the poorest people on earth and trees mean life for many of these Africans. Living with the effects of extreme poverty made worse by climate change, villagers are learning how to raise and care for trees thanks to Tree Aid. Trees are not only good for the environment but also for people. Trees often survive when other crops fail so families can rely on a sustainable, nutritious variety of foods including fruit, nuts and even leaves and flowers. Trees give shade and shelter, food for animals, natural medicines, tools and fuel.
Every tree planted through the Christmas Forest partnership is a gift for an African family this Christmas, and for generations to come. Since 2006, The Christmas Forest has donated over £33,000 towards Tree Aid's tree planting projects - that's over 37,000 new trees planted and many more families are thriving.
"The £33,000 we have received has been a lifeline for African families using trees to battle poverty and climate change", says Tony Hill, Programme Director at Tree Aid.
For the last nine years, Kelty Caston has been running the Christmas Forest and has become the biggest supplier of Christmas trees in London selling over 10,000 last year. His sustainably-sourced trees are cut in late November and early December, so you can be sure they are fresh and at their best. 'Although every tree we source is replaced by another at a tree plantation, I wanted to go further. Tree Aid really impressed me. In Britain we appreciate trees for their beauty but perhaps we take them for granted: in Africa trees really do mean life for people.'
About The Christmas Forest
- London's largest independent 'Treetailer'
- Freshly cut, long lasting trees at really low 'credit crunch' prices.
- If you buy a tree from the Christmas Forest, you too are giving a present. For with EVERY tree sold one is planted in Ethiopia through Tree Aid.
- Trees are only farmed from sustainable sources - every tree cut is replaced by a new one - mostly in the UK to minimize 'tree miles'
- Trees are sold in 7 drive-in sites around London - Putney, Kensal Green, Ealing, Stoke Newington, Richmond, Islington, Dulwich.
- Trees are open and clearly displayed so you can find the shape of tree to suit your room - and then netted for you.
- There are 4 different varieties of tree for sale: scented and non-scented, drop and non-drop and re-plantable living trees.
- An easy and stress-free shopping experience with expert help and free parking.
- And you don't have to panic, either, about all those other necessary bits as they are here too: the stunning wreath, mistletoe, holly and logs for the fire.
- Each venue creates the magic of going to a country farm... so bring the kids too and let them have a go in the Christmas Lucky Dip.
SITE ADDRESSES
RICHMOND - Pools on the Park, Old Deer Park, A316, Richmond, TW9 2SF. 0781 6382573
PUTNEY - Putney Leisure Centre, Upper Richmond Road, A205 South Circular, Putney SW15 1BL. 07816 382 651
ISLINGTON - The Alwyne Pub, jct of St Paul's and Highbury Grove, Islington, N1 2LY. 07816 382 256
STOKE NEWINGTON - St Pauls Church, Stoke Newington Rd (corner of Amhurst Rd) West Hackney, London N16 7UE. 07929 255 232
DULWICH - Streatham and Marlborough Cricket Club, Cox's Walk, Dulwich Common, Dulwich, London, SE21 7EX. 07870 533230
KENSAL GREEN - St John's Church, Kilburn Lane (corner of Harrow Road), W10 4AA. 07816 382 625
EALING - Ealing Common, Hangar Lane, (opposite the Ramada Hotel), W5 3HN. 07816 382 641
Don't get sold a turkey. Tips on buying a good tree
The very best grades from top growers can cost up to five times as much as the lower grades on the wholesale market. This explains the huge range of prices and provides an opportunity for some retailers to turn a very healthy profit if they can persuade customers to part with top money for a lower grade tree. So remember these principles:
- Find a supplier with a good range of quality un-netted trees on show from which you can make an informed selection.
- Ask how long ago the tree was cut and whether it has been given water since.
- An old or drying out tree will show signs of needle wilt and drop even if its of the non-drop variety.
- If you suspect the tree is drying out, run your fingers over a branch and check for needle springiness.
- Look for a nice regular shape (not too fat at the bottom) four good sides, reasonable density of foliage and freedom from moss and lichen.
- Buy a stand with water in it and your tree will last much longer.
Which Tree?
When it comes to a Christmas tree, there's a lot of understandable confusion surrrounding the perfect specimen. As its a purchase only made once a year, we have little opportunity to get to grips with the ins and outs of the market. How can you tell a fresh tree? What's the difference between a fir and a spruce? Which is the most fashionable? Which smells the best? Some people still want a traditional Norway Spruce, even if it means hoovering bags of needles off the carpet each week. But the most popular seller now is the non-drop Nordmann Fir, favoured for its soft needles, dependable shape and silver green blush. In fact, there are at least 5 other varieties available each with its own benefits and all available at the Christmas Forest. So, as well as deciding between drop and non-drop needles, you can also now select by shape, aroma and colour:
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Nordmann Fir Britain's current favourite, it is the classic non-drop tree with full foliage, soft needles and a dependable Christmas tree shape. |
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Norway Spruce comes in both traditional green and a grey blue variety, Has smaller spikier needles and does drop its needles. Its advantage is its lovely piney smell. |
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Blue Spruce Has a waxy coating, lending the tree a frosty festive appearance. |
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Fraser Fir Has a lovely rich balsam fragrance, a more slender shape and silvery green needles. It has a narrow pyramid shape, with strong branches that turn upward, ideal for those with limited space. |
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Noble Fir Has full dark blue-green needles with a silvery sheen and fragrant aroma. It is beautifully proportioned, with stiff branches, ideal for Christmas decorations. They are excellent for retaining their needles. |
Living Trees
If you want to buy a living tree, make sure that you ask whether it has been grown in the pot, rather than uprooted and re-potted as so many are. As Kelty Caston of the Christmas Forest explains, 'People see a tree in a pot with earth and assume it's growing in it. Trees which have been re-potted have generally had part of their root ball cut away and stand only a small chance of surviving when transplanted to the garden. For a proper pot-grown tree you may pay a little more, but you can carry on growing it in the pot or, if you decide to transplant it to the garden, it will stand a good chance.'
