The British Christmas Tree Growers Association is the trade association for those who grow specialist

Christmas Trees A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas. The custom was further developed in early modern G ...

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

and

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

. Membership is open to those who intend to grow or are growing trees for the Christmas market. Associate membership is available for those who provide goods and services to the Christmas Tree sector. Members of the BCTGA cultivate trees specially for the Christmas festivities.

Annual Competition

The BCTGA holds an annual competition to find the best grower from their membership. Entries to the competition are divided into four categories;

Pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accep ...

, Fir,

Spruce A spruce is a tree of the genus ''Picea'' (), a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal (taiga) regions of the Earth. ''Picea'' is the sole genus in the subfami ...

and

Wreath A wreath () is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs, or various materials that is constructed to form a circle . In English-speaking countries, wreaths are used typically as household ornaments, most commonly as an Advent and Chri ...

. All trees must be between 1.8m and 2.2m in height. Each entrant is allowed up to two entries in any given category and the judges look for foliage, shape and marketability. The competition awards a prize for 'Grower of the Year' and the winner is afforded the honour of providing their tree to be the

Downing Street Christmas tree The Downing Street Christmas tree is the Christmas tree placed on Downing Street, outside 10 Downing Street, which is the official office and residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It arrives near the end of November and is lit ...

that year. The winner of the best wreath category also provides a wreath to be hung on the famous black door.

External links

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association homepage

The christmastree.org.uk website by BCTGA

Wholesale members of BCTGA
{{Christmas trees Agricultural organisations based in the United Kingdom Christmas tree production Christmas in the United Kingdom Christmas organizations

Annual Competition

See also

External links