Rent a living

CHRISTMAS TREE

With Christmas fast approaching, it’s time to think about buying a festive fir to brighten up the sitting room. But with an estimated six million trees tossed into the shredder come January, buying or renting a living Christmas tree is a more sustainable option. “A living tree needs to be lifted and repotted each year, fed and watered to keep it flourishing,” explains Alastair Lucking, owner of Love A Christmas Tree. “We sell living trees for £30-60 to clients within a 30-mile radius. But if customers find it’s too demanding keeping a tree alive from one year to the next, the latest trend is to rent a tree.” For just £20 you can rent a small (H80100cm) potted Nordmann fir, which works out about 30% cheaper than buying one. “People have been renting our living trees for the last four years,” says Alastair. “We take on all the responsibility of keeping them alive, and collect the tree after Christmas. About 85% of our customers want the same tree back year after year, and they often give them names such as Spiky, Queenie or Prince Albert.” Part of the fun in getting the same tree back is seeing whether it has grown taller than the children over the year. It’s a popular option for young families and those whose garden is too small to accommodate a permanent tree. “We started off renting out about 20 trees a year,” says Alastair of the scheme’s popularity. “Last year we rented out 150, and this year we’ve already had requests for 300. It’s popular with older customers too because we deliver and position your tree for you. All you have to do is decorate it!” l Contact: 01455 840600; www.loveachristmastree.co.uk