It’s almost time to get rockin’ around the Christmas tree, but with growing concerns about the impact of plastic to our environment, it may be worth considering where to get your tree from this year.

But how do we have a more eco-friendly Christmas?

Christmas trees have been a festive tradition since the 16th century and one many of us would not want to celebrate without one.

Fred Smith Christmas trees, in Boxted, has been selling real Christmas trees for 57 years.

The firm plants trees across about ten acres of land and there are now thousands of healthy trees in situ.

Trees are grown for 12 to 15 years before they are harvested although some are allowed to grow for up to 40 years.

This year’s tree donated to Colchester General Hospital was more than 30 years old.

Norway Spruce, Blue Spruce and Nordmaan Fir are the favoured varieties for the business which Fred Smith started in 1961.

The trees are cut or sold with roots so they can be replanted after Christmas.

Fred’s son, Tim, now runs the family business.

He said: “We have more and more people who have gone back from plastic to the real thing and this is their first real tree.

“They like the smell, they might come with the idea of getting one with a root on and they finish up having it cut and put in a stand.

“During the weekends we’re so busy here, we might have 20 or 30 people here at a time getting trees and it’s easier and better for them to walk into the yard and pick the tree they want.”

 

Real Christmas can be bad for the environment too. The effects of deforestation can release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as well as destroy the habitats of wildlife.

But you could end up on the naughty list after all because the artificial tree can be just as eco-unfriendly if not more so.

Most artificial trees are made from PVC plastic as well as a number of different materials. This means they can not be recycled end up in landfill.

Research has found you would need to use the same artificial tree for over a decade before the environmental impacts of disposing of it are equal to that of responsibly recycling a real tree.

Tim thinks plastic trees should be banned.

He said: “When you look at a plastic tree, really they ought to be banned because they’re a pollution issue on their own.

“If you cut a tree off today and just left it on the ground, in the matter of a couple or three years time you probably wouldn’t even know it’s been here.

 

“There might be a bit of a replica of a tree shape left, but the insects and grubs and things will have feasted on it and give it a bit longer there will be nothing there.”

Tim works closely with St Helena Hospice which has linked up with Colchester Council to collect trees and recycle them responsibly after the Christmas period is over helping his trees to be as eco-friendly as possible.

What else you can do

It's not just the tree that can effect our carbon footprint over Christmas, there are a number of things we can do to do our bit for the planet.

  • May your days be merry and bright - by using eco-friendly LED lights.
  • Driving Home For Christmas - when family are gathering together, try to car-share to reduce the number of vehicles travelling on the roads.
  • Feed the world - far too often we cook too much food. Use your leftovers to make some delicious dishes for the rest of the month- don't throw them away.
  • Christmas Wrapping - wrapping paper and Christmas crackers can now be made from recycled materials AND be recycled once they are finished with.
  • Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day - keep up the eco-friendly work all year round!