Christmas trees have been a staple part of the festive season since Georgian times, when King George III’s wife, Charlotte, decorated a yew tree at the Queen’s Lodge in Windsor in 1800. The trend towards decorating trees was further popularised by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, with festooned trees forming the centrepiece of many Christmas celebrations . Now, their prevalence is such that a 2021 study found that 85 per cent of Britons put up a tree in their home at Christmastime.

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) estimates that about five million real Christmas trees are bought each year in the UK. While artificial trees may be cheaper, they also have a significant carbon footprint. Most are made from plastic in China and shipped overseas. After use, they end u

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