Press Release 2007

The Christmas Forest:	0870 758 6861/6862
Web:	www.christmasforest.co.uk
Email:	kelty@christmasforest.co.uk

About The Christmas Forest

- London's largest independent 'Treetailer'

- If you buy a tree from the Christmas Forest, you too are giving a present. For with EVERY tree sold one is planted in Burkina Faso (the third poorest country in the world).

- Trees are only farmed from sustainable sources - every tree cut is replaced by a new one - mostly in the UK to minimize 'tree miles'

- Trees are sold in seven drive-in sites around London - Putney, Kensal Green, Ealing, Stoke Newington, Richmond, Islington, Shepherd's Bush.

- Trees are open and clearly displayed so you can find the shape of tree to suit your room - and then netted for you.

- There are six different varieties of tree for sale: scented and non-scented, drop and non-drop and re-plantable living trees.

- Christmas Forest trees are always fresh, so they will last better and longer.

- An easy and stress-free shopping experience with expert help and free parking.

- And you don't have to panic, either, about all those other necessary bits as they are here too: the stunning wreath, mistletoe, holly and logs for the fire.

- Each venue creates the magic of going to a country farm...so bring the kids too and let them have a go in the Christmas Lucky Dip.

Make your tree last longer than Christmas

The Christmas Forest links up with Tree Aid

This year make your Christmas tree count more than usual. If you live in or near London, you can buy a tree from The Christmas Forest - London's largest independent tree seller with seven sites across London. (Putney, Islington, Richmond, Kensal Green, Shepherds Bush, Ealing and Stoke Newington). For every tree you buy, another will be planted in Burkina Faso (the world's third poorest country) through the charity Tree Aid.

As Miranda Spitteler, Chief Executive of Tree Aid says 'As with last year, for every Christmas tree sold through The Christmas Forest, so a family in Africa can grow a tree that could mean housing, food, fuel, medicine, and even money by selling the things growing on it.'

For the last nine years, Kelty Caston has been running the Christmas Forest and has become the biggest supplier of Christmas trees in London selling 10,000 last year. His sustainably-sourced trees are cut in late November and early December, so you can be sure they are fresh and at their best.

'Although every tree we source is replaced by another at a tree plantation, I wanted to go further. Tree Aid really impressed me. In Britain we appreciate trees for their beauty but perhaps we take them for granted: in Africa trees really do mean life for people.'

For more information on Tree Aid www.treeaid.org.uk

Don't get sold a turkey. Tips on buying a good tree

The very best grades from top growers can cost up to five times as much as the lower grades on the wholesale market. This explains the huge range of prices and provides an opportunity for some retailers to turn a very healthy profit if they can persuade customers to part with top money for a lower grade tree. So remember these principles:

- Find a supplier with a good range of quality un-netted trees on show from which you can make an informed selection.

- Ask how long ago the tree was cut and whether it has been given water since.

- An old or drying out tree will show signs of needle wilt and drop even if its of the non-drop variety.

- If you suspect the tree is drying out, run your fingers over a branch and check for needle springiness.

- Look for a nice regular shape (not too fat at the bottom) four good sides, reasonable density of foliage and freedom from moss and lichen.

- Buy a stand with water in it and your tree will last much longer.

Which Tree?

When it comes to a Christmas tree, there's a lot of understandable confusion surrrounding the perfect specimen. As its a purchase only made once a year, we have little opportunity to get to grips with the ins and outs of the market. How can you tell a fresh tree? What's the difference between a fir and a spruce? Which is the most fashionable? Which smells the best? Some people still want a traditional Norway Spruce, even if it means hoovering bags of needles off the carpet each week. But the most popular seller now is the non-drop Nordmann Fir, favoured for its soft needles, dependable shape and silver green blush. In fact, there are at least 5 other varieties available each with its own benefits and all available at the Christmas Forest. So, as well as deciding between drop and non-drop needles, you can also now select by shape, aroma and colour:

	Nordmann Fir Britain's current favourite, it is the classic non-drop tree with full foliage, soft needles and a dependable Christmas tree shape.
	Norway Spruce comes in both traditional green and a grey blue variety, Has smaller spikier needles and does drop its needles. Its advantage is its lovely piney smell.
	Blue Spruce Has a waxy coating, lending the tree a frosty festive appearance.
	Silvertip Fir Has a light blue, frosty sheen, narrow in shape and gives off a fresh Eucalyptus fragrance.
	Fraser Fir Has a lovely rich balsam fragrance, a more slender shape and silvery green needles. It has a narrow pyramid shape, with strong branches that turn upward, ideal for those with limited space.
	Noble Fir Has full dark blue-green needles with a silvery sheen and fragrant aroma. It is beautifully proportioned, with stiff branches, ideal for Christmas decorations. They are excellent for retaining their needles.

Living Trees
If you want to buy a living tree, make sure that you ask whether it has been grown in the pot, rather than uprooted and re-potted as so many are. As Kelty Caston of the Christmas Forest explains, 'People see a tree in a pot with earth and assume it's growing in it. Trees which have been re-potted have generally had part of their root ball cut away and stand only a small chance of surviving when transplanted to the garden. For a proper pot-grown tree you may pay a little more, but you can carry on growing it in the pot or, if you decide to transplant it to the garden, it will stand a good chance.'

Site Addresses

RICHMOND - Richmond Rugby Ground, A316, Richmond TW9 2SS. 07816 382 573

PUTNEY - Putney Leisure Centre, Upper Richmond Road, A205 South Circular, Putney SW15 1BL. 07816 382 651

ISLINGTON - The Alwyne Pub, jct of St Paul's and Highbury Grove, Islington, N1 2LY. 07816 382 256

STOKE NEWINGTON - St Pauls Church, Stoke Newington Rd (corner of Amhurst Rd) West Hackney, London N16 7UE. 07929 255 232

SHEPHERD'S BUSH - 87-93 Goldhawk Road, W12 8EG. 07870 533 230

KENSAL GREEN - St John's Church, Kilburn Lane (corner of Harrow Road), W10 4AA. 07816 382 625

EALING - Ealing Common, Hangar Lane, (opposite the Ramada Hotel), W5 3HN. 07816 382 641