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insideKENT ’ S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS TREES CONT .
REAL OR FAKE ?
Artificial trees are extremely practical , and for that reason they have become increasingly popular . If you take good care of them and store them properly , they should last you for many years . But what are their effects on the environment and are we best ditching artificial and buying real ? Well , most artificial trees are made using plastic and nine times out of 10 will make their way via ship from China before eventually ending up on our shelves in the UK , therefore increasing carbon emissions . More significantly , they aren ’ t recyclable , nor are they biodegradable , so even if it does last you 10 great years , ultimately it ’ ll still end up in landfill somewhere at some point .
People may assume that real Christmas trees are detrimental to the environment , but that ’ s not entirely true . It ’ s actually estimated that real trees use 10 times less material than artificial ones , they are also completely biodegradable and can be recycled for compost so they don ’ t go to waste . Additionally , real trees are a renewable resource . Christmas tree farms are extremely sustainable , mostly having a rotating cycle whereby established trees are harvested , new trees are planted and young trees are left to flourish . With Christmas trees taking sometimes up to 12 years to grow , this time provides the perfect habitat for wildlife and protects the land from other developments .
LOOKING AFTER YOUR REAL TREE
Like with any real thing , your Christmas tree will need watering . Start from the minute that it arrives into your home and out of its net , which will stop it from becoming dehydrated . Continue to keep this up every day and your tree will remain sprightly , full and smelling beautiful ; any signs of drooping or wilting mean that you need to get watering . Do your research on the species when you get it home as some will require more water than others . Despite what some may say , falling needles are unavoidable ; all conifers ‘ shed ’ their coat at some point . Use a dust-pan and brush or keep the hoover handy , being careful not to knock the base in the process .
It ’ s a known fact that cats love Christmas trees and will more often than not try to climb up or play games with the baubles . There are a few things you can do to prevent them from destroying your masterpieces . Cats aren ’ t very fond of citrus scents or foil ; use lemon or orange peel to deter your cat or wrap your tree trunk with foil to put them off climbing . You can also buy some nifty cat deterrent gadgets online that are very affordable , so be sure to check those out .
RUXLEY MANOR ’ S TOP TIPS
Ruxley Manor ’ s real trees are farmed and not cut from the wild . The trees have a positive impact on wildlife and the environment and provide jobs for farmers and foresters in the UK . Ruxley brings to you their top tips on what to do after you ’ ve purchased your tree .
1 . Use a water holding stand and keep it topped up .
2 . Your tree can be left in the garden until you are ready for it .
3 . Saw two inches off the bottom of the tree just before setting the tree in its stand and keep the tree watered . This cut must be fresh .
4 . Locate the tree away from radiators and keep temperatures around the tree cool - remember , the tree has no roots !
5 . If your tree dries out , don ’ t worry , it may lose its colour , but the needles will still hold .
www . ruxley-manor . co . uk
“ Trees grow by taking carbon dioxide , the greenhouse gas CO2 , out of the atmosphere and releasing clean oxygen . One acre of Christmas trees provides enough daily oxygen for at least 18 people . Christmas tree plantations are also a haven for a wide variety of birds and other wildlife and Christmas tree growing is sustainable farming , for every tree harvested another is planted . Support our economy , buy local , buy British !”
Julie Alexandersen , Hans Christmas Andersen , White Gates Farm hanschristmasandersenwhitegatesfarm
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