An Authentic Beaminster Christmas, courtesy of Beaminster Christmas Trees
There’s a new kid in town; actually, with this exciting new business taking shape in our town, everyone will feel youthful again as you’re transported back to wintery Christmases picking out the perfect tree for the family Christmas, upon which to hang baubles and tinsel, angels, ribbons, candy canes and those questionable papier-mache decorations lovingly crafted for you that you still proudly hang on the tree.
We’re talking about an exciting new business taking root (apologies) in Beaminster that will now afford you the wonderful chance to pick out your own, real Christmas tree.
We spoke to Brian and Catherine Allan about their new venture.
A Family Tradition.
In its first year of business, Beaminster Christmas Trees was born out of necessity. Growing up with the personal tradition to avoid plastic and instead opt in for a real Christmas tree, the family set out to find one of their own. After searching for a tree in the past, it was found that the closest place that offered an abundance of choice to find the perfect tree, was in Dorchester, and as a result, decided to open up a business that would offer local residents the same abundance of choice, right on their doorstep.
“As a child we always had a real tree,” she tells us, “but it wasn’t until we had children ourselves that we made it a family tradition to have a real tree”.
For Brian and Catherine, finding a tree has always been a special part of Christmas for them as family. The excitement that led up to Christmas almost always included a visit to the local Christmas tree farm where all the beautiful pines and furs were displayed, and they painstakingly and carefully chose the one that suited them best. “It always signalled the start of Christmas, for us,” they say.
So, why select real trees over Christmas ones?
Well, according to the Carbon Trust, a real tree is far more sustainable than a plastic tree – especially the ones that end up in landfill. An artificial tree would have to be reused for at least ten Christmases to keep its environmental impact lower than that of a real tree.
And if you’re worried about the fact that the harvesting of Christmas trees results in de-forestation; don’t. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Such is the demand for real trees that in fact, millions of Christmas trees are planted every year where crops are specifically grown and re-planted every year.
Not only that, but buying a British-grown Christmas tree means that you’re supporting British business which is grown and produced in Britain, as opposed to the heavy carbon footprint of plastic trees shipped in from other parts of the world.
Selecting the best trees
Although the trees aren’t grown in Beaminster, the family works with a specialist Christmas Tree farm and supplier based in Scotland who supplies a wide variety of trees for them to sell. “We flew to Edinburgh back in September to meet the farmer who grows the trees for us,” Catherine tells us. “He took us to the Christmas tree plantation just outside of Dunblane. It was the most beautiful sight of over 300 acres of every type of Christmas tree you could imagine. All shape and sizes. They take around 10 years to grow a 6ft Christmas tree,” she says. And as trees are harvested, new trees are planted, keeping the whole process an organic, living, sustainable cycle.
Ordering and choosing your perfect tree
The Allan family have hand-picked a selection of beautiful trees which will be prepared and freshly delivered to their premises at the end of November, ready for sale on 28th November this year.
If you’re ready to get REAL this year, you can pre-order a tree either through their website or via their Facebook page, and they can arrange delivery. But what makes the experience spectacular is coming along and picking one out that suits you best!
Trees will be available from 28 November 2019 and sold in a number of sizes, at reasonable prices that match. Find them at Lower Barrowfield Farm in Beaminster (next to Buglers Tractor yard).
For more information:
Email them: [email protected]
Website: https://www.beaminsterchristmastrees.co.uk/
