A growing festive tradition

The great Christmas tree rush is under way again with more than 100,000 likely to be bought in Hampshire over the next few weeks.

In the UK overall, an estimated seven million trees are snapped up, ranging from the tiny ones which go above shop windows to the giants which brighten up town and city centres - and that doesn't include the artificial ones.

In Hampshire, garden centres, DIY centres and farm shops will be packing their forecourts with trees to meet everyone's requirements.

And those tastes can vary. Just ask Richard Vine, who is head forester on the Longdown Estate near Ashurst and who is harvesting about 3,000 trees in readiness for the Christmas rush.

Some want trees upstairs, some want trees downstairs and there are a few who place a really tall tree strategically in their entrance hall so that it reaches upwards and spreads the Christmas spirit on to the first floor landing as well.

After 35 years in forestry, Richard, 50, said: "A lot of people come here looking for a nice bushy tree.

"But not everyone's tastes are the same. There are several who like a tree that's a bit on the skinny side because they won't want it to take up too much room."

There are a few, too, who might want their tree to take on a special shape to fit into a bay window or a corner.

So, at Longdown and at countless other centres, hundreds of trees are put out every day to enable people to turn up, spin them round and take anything up to three hours before deciding which one to take home.

The breed of tree at Longdown - and it will sell about 3,000 estate-grown trees to people mainly from the Southampton and New Forest areas - makes the job more straightforward, because, says Richard: "They are only one colour and they are all Norway spruce."

Longdown does have a few people turning up looking for a blue Christmas tree, but the blue spruce - native to the North American states of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico - is still not particularly common in the United Kingdom.

As well as looking after the needs of thousands of householders, Longdown also meets a demand from countless hotels, shopping centres including the Bargate in Southampton, a 35-footer for West End Parish Council, a 25-footer for Winchester Cathedral and scores for churches, local authorities including Southampton and the New Forest, plus Southampton University.

Meanwhile, the roads of Hampshire will also be busy bringing in thousands of trees which will be sold in various places.

One of the biggest tree movers is the Forestry Commission, which is bringing in about 4,000 trees to sell at New Park at Brockenhurst, Moors Valley near Ringwood and at Safeway at Lymington.

Those trees include Norway spruce from the commission's forests on the North York Moors, Nordman Fir from Scotland and lodge pole pine from the Isle of Skye.

The UK growers, who produce about six million trees for the home market - a further million are imported, mainly from Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and Germany - is quick to point out that every tree that is cut or dug is replaced.

Roger Hay, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association, said: "By the time the Christmas tree is taken out of the house, a new one will be ready for planting, if not planted already.

"The next supply of trees is in the nurseries already and my growers will be buying them in February."

He explained that a tree takes about eight years to reach the most popular size and that there are about 65 million trees growing in the UK, which probably adds up to more trees than people.

Mr Hay also pointed out that an acre of growing trees gives off enough oxygen to meet the needs of 16 people, as well playing a key role in purifying the atmosphere.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR FIR LOOKING FAB:

Keep it outside in a cool place, preferably in a bucket of water, until you are ready to plant it.

Cut about two inches off the base to open up the pores.

Keep it in a water-holding stand or a bucket of pebbles or stones and add up to a pint of water daily.

Make sure it is not too close to a heater or radiator.

Decorate it profusely, make the most of it and if you've done the right things, there won't be too many pines on the carpet by the twelfth night.

Don't put lighted candles on your tree.

Make sure your lights meet British standards and don't overload your circuit.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREE:

Norway spruce - The traditional Christmas tree with mid-green needles is native to northern and central Europe.

Noble fir - Introduced to Britain in 1830, this tree is native to Washington and Oregon in the United States where it reaches great heights. It has blue/grey needles.

Lodgepole pine - Native to North America, was often used by Native Americans to provide support for wigwams. It has twisted yellowish green needles.

Scots pine - As its name suggests, native to the Caledonian pine forests. It has twisted blue-green needles.

Serbian spruce is a tall, slim, pointed spruce with green needles. It has been a favourite in central European for a long time.

Nordman fir - Native to Russia and a big favourite in Denmark, it is growing more popular as it heads westwards.

Blue spruce - Has a strong blue tinge to its needles and is native to the east of the Rocky Mountains.

Fraser fir - A newcomer from the United States, where it is popular in the east and is prolific in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Northern Carolina and Virginia.