Cladach Garden Centre keeps Christmas tree tradition alive
Cladach Garden Centre has ensured that a decades old tradition of buying locally-sourced and sustainable Christmas trees grown on Arran will continue this year by partnering with Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).
As reported in last week’s Banner, FLS’s Brodick office has been closed owing to the pandemic and many people – who have for over 30 years bought their Christmas trees from them – thought that this year they would be unable to.
But thanks to Gavin Mutch and his team at the Cladach Garden Centre the tradition can continue, with Arran FLS noble fir trees now being sold along with a selection of ‘imported’ Nordmann firs. The Nordmann fir trees have been pruned and specially-grown for Christmas trees while the Arran versions, which have also been slightly pruned after cutting, have been allowed to grow naturally without any interference. This means that the trees are not as ‘perfect’ as their counterparts but are equally attractive, grown on Arran, and as an added bonus are also more affordable.
Mr Mutch said: ‘We are more than delighted to be able to offer FLS Christmas trees along with our own stock of bought-in trees.
People who buy Arran trees each year will be able to continue the tradition by purchasing the trees from our premises at Cladach. We are open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and we would be happy to help with your Christmas trees and any other gardening or landscaping needs.’
FLS have been supplying locals with Christmas trees for 30 years this year. The trees are planted and there is no maintenance or continual training or pruning involved. A small number are grown each year and made available as an informal festive gesture which is well supported by the Arran community.