Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm in Devon have won the accolade of providing the Christmas tree for Downing Street after being crowned Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year 2023.
The winner of Champion Festive Wreath of the Year 2023 is Friezeland Christmas Tree Farm, Warwickshire, and they will provide the wreath for the door of the Prime Minister’s residence.
Organised by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA), the annual competition has been running since 1999.
The event is kindly sponsored by HD2412, suppliers of equipment for the production of real Christmas trees, together with their UK distributor Billingley Christmas Trees Ltd.
The winning tree and wreath were chosen by members of the BCTGA who attended the competition day held today at Billingley Christmas Trees, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
Peter Wright from Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet was a special guest for this year’s competition and selected a Nordmann Fir grown by Dartmoor Christmas Trees, Devon, as his favourite tree for the Celebrity Choice Award as well as Dartmoor Christmas Trees, Devon, for the Celebrity Choice Wreath.
Rory Young, Chairman of BCTGA, said: “Every year our competition gets bigger and bigger and we are delighted to have seen the growing support for this prestigious event.
“Today is a terrific opportunity for Christmas tree growers across Britian to come together to support each other, socialise and of course, vote for the best tree and wreath to go to Downing Street.
“Congratulations to all our winners; it really is testament to their hard work that they have won the crown for their category. Now we go into our busiest season of the year when we look forward to promoting real Christmas trees to consumers as well as the big switch on at Downing Street which really kick starts the festive season.”
Awards included:
Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year – (Supplier of 2023 tree for 10 Downing Street) Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm in Devon
Runner Up Christmas Tree Grower of the Year – Gower Fresh Christmas Trees, Wales
Best Pine Winner – Farr North Christmas Trees, Highland.
Best Pine Runner Up – Dinmore Hill Christmas Trees, Herefordshire
Best Norway Spruce, sponsored by Lights4Fun, Winner – Dartmoor Christmas Trees, Devon
Best Norway Spruce, sponsored by Lights4Fun, Runner Up – Edenmill Christmas Trees, Stirlingshire
Best Spruce Other Winner – Gower Fresh Christmas Trees, Wales
Best Spruce Other Runner Up – Oakberry Trees, Leicestershire
Best Nordmann Fir, sponsored by ICL, Winner- Scottish Christmas Trees, Dumfriesshire
Best Nordmann Fir, sponsored by ICL, Runner Up – Cadeby Tree Trust, Warwickshire
Best Fir Other Winner – Cadeby Tree Trust, Warwickshire
Best Fir Other Runner Up – Dartmoor Christmas Trees, Devon
Best Container Grown Tree, sponsored by ICL, Winner – Endon Christmas Tree Farm, Staffordshire
Best Container Grown Tree, sponsored by ICL, Runner Up – Gower Fresh Christmas Trees, Wales
Celebrity Choice Tree Winner – Dartmoor Christmas Trees, Devon
Celebrity Choice Wreath Winner – Dartmoor Christmas Trees, Devon
Innovation Award
Innovation Award, sponsored by The Professional Sprayers People, Winner – York Christmas Trees, North Yorkshire for their ‘Doziroller’.
Innovation Award Highly Commended –West Hyde Christmas Trees, Essex for their Compact Mist Blower.
Wreaths
Champion Festive Wreath – Friezeland Christmas Tree Farm, Warwickshire
Best Natural Wreath Winner - Friezeland Christmas Tree Farm, Warwickshire
Best Natural Wreath Runner Up – Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm in Devon
Best Decorated Wreath, sponsored by Lights4Fun, Winner – Friezeland Christmas Tree Farm, Warwickshire
Best Decorated Wreath, sponsored by Lights4Fun, Runner Up – Welford Christmas Tree Farm, Northamptonshire
Film
Best Short Film Winner– Hans Christmas Andersen, South East
Best Short Film Runner Up – Dane End Christmas Tree Farm, Hertfordshire
MEDIA CONTACT
Jo Francisco
PR Manager
Mobile: 07954 007414
Email: jof@yas.co.uk
EDITOR’S NOTES
- The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) is the trade association for UK growers of Christmas Trees in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Visit www.bctga.co.uk and see @BCTGA
- Over 8 million real Christmas trees were sold in 2021
- An average 6ft Christmas tree takes 10 years to grow and attracts a wealth of wildlife during its growing cycle.
- The BCTGA was first established in 1980 and now has more than 320 members.
- BCTGA members abide by a Code of Practice to promote trees being grown in an environmental and sustainable way.
- The BCTGA is managed by Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), a registered charity which supports and promotes the farming industry through health care, education and funding scientific research into rural affairs.