Dec 1, 20222 min read

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

What are your thoughts on Christmas trees? Are you won over by the authentic look and smell of a real fir? Or do you prefer the ease and practicalities of an artificial tree?

I have always been insistent on a real Christmas tree - specifically a tall, bushy one that doesn't look wonky and doesn't drop its needles! This year, however, I've had a change of heart. This has been prompted, in part, by the fact that over the last couple of years, I've been press ganged into getting the tree up on the 1st December and by Christmas Day, it's looked a little sorry for itself with wilting branches and a carpet full of needles. Another factor is the ever increasing prices of the real trees - I'm seriously shocked each year as I hand over what feels like an extortionate sum. So, not wanting to disappoint my youngest - the festive cheerleader in our house and the one responsible for the tree going up so early - I broached the subject of real versus artificial. Without missing a beat, she responded by asking which was more environmentally friendly - now there's a point to the younger generation as I must confess, this contentious factor had not really been at the forefront of my mind. It seems that this question is open to debate. Real trees absolutely have their environmental advantages (they absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and emit oxygen and they can be recycled) whereas artificial trees are often made abroad so have a much larger carbon footprint. Promising to offset the cost to the environment by reusing the tree for the next 10 years, we've settled on an artificial tree and have taken advantage of a good sale price. We're optimistic that another advantage of the faux fir is that our dog will not be tempted to cock his leg up against it - wish us luck with that one!

Now for the fun part - glass of sherry in hand, decorating the tree with the family (me, pretending not to be a control freak whilst strategically adjusting each bauble placed by the kids) and Christmas music on full blast!

To follow is a selection of fabulously festive Christmas trees - ranging from the traditional to more playful - to give you some ideas and get you in the mood for putting your tree up!

Ho ho ho!