Few things define the festive season like a Christmas tree, but at Fakenham, Norfolk, this enthusiasm is taken to the next level.
Taking place at Fakenham Church until December 5th, the annual Christmas tree festival features exactly what you would expect: plenty of seasonal trees. Around 90 examples are present, each highlighting one of 76 charities, with visitors invited to come in and donate to their favourite example.
The church is open from 10:00 GMT until 20:00 GMT each day of the event, giving guests plenty of time to arrive and inspect the displays for themselves. Last year, the show attracted over 25,000 people during its run, with similar numbers expected this year, if not more.
Of course, for the budding gardener the opportunity to grow your own tree may simply prove too tempting. A hands on project can be a labour of love, with visible rewards for your efforts.
These species can be grown in the UK but it does take time and patience. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, trees can take around 20 years to reach between 15 m and 20 m in height.
There are many different types of Christmas tree available, although the most common is the traditional Norwegian spruce. More exotic, smaller alternatives include the Korean fir, Blue spruce and Fraser fir.
Many of these are already being grown in the UK and acquiring one of these samples, whether its a seedling or cutting, as a plant thats been grown in-country for longer will have aclimatised to the weather, as opposed to a freshly imported sample.
Any task needs the right tools and a long-term project such as this will require a small handful of equipment. Like any shrub, you will want to prune it back on occasion, while a simple lawnmower is effective at keeping the surrounding lawn clear of other plants.
