| Forestry
Dartmoor ‘Christmas Couple’ earn Downing Street
spotlight for their trees & wreath
A husband and wife team from Dartmoor have
sensationally claimed a total of seven prizes in this
year’s British Christmas Tree competition – earning
themselves a very special trip to Downing Street.
tuart and Jennie
Kirkup, who have
been running
Dartmoor
Christmas Trees
since 2002, were
yesterday selected as standout
winners in the categories of
Champion Christmas Tree and
Champion Wreath, in the British
Christmas Tree Growers’
Association’s annual contest.
The competition saw growers
travel from the farthest corners of
the UK to Poundffald Farm in West
Glamorgan, where they pitched
their spruces and firs against those
of their peers.
In an unprecedented sweep of
the results, Stuart and Jennie, who
have five children, claimed the top
prize for Champion Tree,
Champion Tree Runner Up, Best
Fir ‘Other’, Best Spruce Norway,
Best Decorated Wreath, Best
Natural Wreath, and Champion
Festive Wreath.
S
The result means the couple will
be responsible for supplying
Number 10 Downing Street with
TWO Christmas trees this year,
and the wreath for the famous
front door.
Stuart, who qualified in civil
engineering before falling in love
with the world of Christmas tree
farming, said: “I just can’t believe
it. For my wife or I to have come
away with one prize between us
would have been great, but for
Jennie to win all three awards for
her wreaths and for me to get so
many for the trees – it’s just
incredible, and not what I
expected at all.
“Throughout the year I looked at
the Spruce in the field in particular,
and thought maybe that could be
in with a chance for the annual
BCTGA competition, but I never
dared believe it might actual win
the Champion spot. I’m delighted.”
Stuart’s trip to the Prime
Minister’s residence will be
28 | Farming Monthly | November 2016
particularly special this year, given
that he previously had an
opportunity to attend as a runnerup, but sadly lost his father just
days before the event, and was
forced to pull out of the occasion.
“That was five years ago now,”
he said. “I never thought I would
get a chance to be back again –
but as a winner.
“I’m sure Dad will be looking
down on me on the day and
smiling.”
Stuart and Jennie employ
around 25 staff at the peak of the
festive season on their 35 acre
farm. They admit it can be hard
work, but insist it is a labour of
love, and a joy shared by the
many loyal workers who come
back year after year.
“There are certainly some tough
times in Christmas tree growing,
because for 10 months of the year
you’re not seeing anything for the
efforts you’re putting in,” Stuart
said. “But at the same time, it’s
something I absolutely love doing
and the sense of reward in the
busier times is terrific.
“That’s why we have so many
staff coming back year after year
to help us at the peak season.
They love being involved with the
trees. We have solicitors,
accountants – all sorts. They can’t
wait to get back in the field at
Christmas time and help us.”
The British Christmas Tree
Growers Association contest is
now in its 18th year. Each farmer,
who will have spent around 10
years nurturing the tree to full
‘competition’ height, is able to
enter categories including Best
Nordman, Best Other Fir, Best
Pine, Best Norway Spruce, Best
Other Spruce, Best Container
Grown, and Best Festive Wreath.
Finalists were permitted to
submit only one tree into each
category, and trees entered must
be commercially cultivated and be
1.8 metres ( +/- 400mms) high
from base to tip. Each is judged
for foliage, colour, shape and
marketability.
Harry Brightwell, secretary of
the British Christmas Tree
Growers’ Association, said: “Huge
congratulations go to Stuart and
Jennie. We’ve never seen a couple
walk away with seven prizes in one
go like that before, but they
thoroughly deserved their awards.
“Yet again, all the entries were
of a high standard. Every one of
our members puts a great deal of
commitment into a year-round
process of farming Christmas
trees, so this event is a valuable
opportunity for us to applaud their
efforts.
“Our message this year to all
festive lovers is to make choosing
a tree a special event for the
household – and to ‘Buy Real, Buy
British’.”
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