Christmas Tree Plantation

There are many pros & cons, but here are the main factors to help you decide.

Fake Trees

The main benefit often cited is that a fake tree can be reused for many years (UK average lifespan ~ 6 years).

However, their environmental downsides include:

• Use of PVC (a non-renewable, polluting plastic), sometimes containing toxic additives (e.g. lead).

• High transport footprint (many are shipped from China) rather than grown locally.

• At end of life, they linger in landfill for centuries.
  According to the Carbon Trust, a six-foot fake tree in landfill has a carbon footprint of ~ 40 kg CO₂e; over 6 years that’s significant at scale.

Real Trees

• Real Christmas trees are natural and renewable, grown specifically for this purpose.

• On average, one acre of ~ 3,000 Pinewood trees can absorb ~ 1 tonne CO₂ (less when young, more as they grow).

• If recycled properly, a real tree’s footprint is a maximum of ~ 3.5 kg CO₂e; if not recycled, ~ 19.5 kg CO₂e — still less than half that of a fake tree.

• Pinewood plantations also support local wildlife (birds, insects, etc.), maintain eco-balance with woodland and ponds, and replant one tree for each harvested one, preserving continuous carbon sinks.

• Some use of fertilisers, weedkillers, insecticides is necessary, but these are minimised to limit environmental impact.

Producing a high-quality Christmas tree involves a lot of care and time. A Nordmann Fir, for example, takes 11–12 years from seed to reach a sellable 6 ft height, during which there is frequent shaping, pruning, and maintenance (much by hand).

Thus, a price range of £42–£58 reflects the craftsmanship and growing time involved.

To retain freshness after purchase, water the tree well to prevent needle drop, and aim to source trees harvested recently (rather than stored for long periods) to ensure longevity in your home.

Pinewood aims for convenience by:

• Locating their plantation sales frontage on the busy A449 at Hartlebury / Stourport junction — avoiding narrow lanes or confusing directions.

• Providing a surfaced car park, floodlit sales area, and 360° tree display stands so customers can view trees from all angles without struggling to handle them.

• Offering help with loading trees, or delivery for an extra cost.

• Not applying high-pressure sales tactics — customers can browse at their leisure.

Trees go on sale from Thursday 21st November 2024 until Saturday 21st December 2024.

Opening hours:

• Monday to Saturday: 08:30 – 19:00
• Sunday: 09:00 – 18:00

Address: Pinewood Christmas Tree Plantation, Rectory Lane, Hartlebury, Worcestershire, DY11 7XA.

Nearby cities & approximate drive times:

• Stourport: ~9 min
• Kidderminster: ~12 min
• Droitwich: ~16 min
• Bewdley: ~15 min
• Bromsgrove: ~16 min
• Worcester: ~19 min
• Stourbridge: ~26 min
• Birmingham: ~45 min

Use their “Get Directions” link for mapping.

For each tree harvested, Pinewood plants another to maintain continuous carbon sinks and prevent soil erosion.
The plantation also includes 5 acres of broadleaved woodland and two ponds alongside local streams, supporting wildlife (e.g. moorhens, coots, kingfishers).

They also install “badger gates” in rabbit fencing to allow traditional animal routes.

They apply fertilisers, weedkillers, and insecticides only when necessary, minimising use to reduce environmental impact.

All their trees are harvested just days before sale (not held in storage for long).

Once brought indoors, the key to keeping it fresh is watering well — this helps prevent needle drop during the holiday season.