A 19-foot-tall Nordmann Fir has been lit up by the Prime Minister, signalling the start of Christmas.

Bishops Offley Christmas Trees from Staffordshire provided the Prime Minister’s Christmas tree this year after winning Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year in an annual competition run by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA).

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “I would like to thank those who have helped to decorate Downing Street this Christmas, especially Russell and Liz from Bishops Offley Christmas Trees, who have provided our magnificent Fir tree, and all those at Santa Trees in Cornwall who have skilfully crafted this year’s wreath for our famous black door.

“Many thanks also to all of our hard-working growers and producers who provide beautiful Christmas trees across the UK. I would like to wish them, and their families, a very happy Christmas.”

Russell and Liz Stanhope from Bishops Offley Christmas Trees said: "This is a hugely proud moment for us to this year have the honour of providing one of our Christmas trees for Downing Street. Winning champion growers of the year was testament to a lot of hard work that's gone into our little business, and we are over the moon to be here seeing our tree in all its glory tonight. It’s a moment we will never forget."

The Christmas tree was decorated by Jane Ingram of The Tree Barn, Watlington, Oxfordshire and Charlotte Gilbert of Woods Barn / Wood Farm Christmas Trees, Solihull.

Santa Trees, Cornwall, provided the wreath for the door of No 10 Downing Street after winning the Champion Festive Wreath category.

Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm, Devon, provided Christmas trees for inside No.10 after winning Runner Up Christmas Tree Grower of the Year. Gower Fresh Christmas Trees, Swansea provided the tree for inside Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) after winning Best Short Film.

Heather Parry, Managing Agent for BCTGA said: “We are so proud of our members who have worked tirelessly to ensure the public can enjoy a fresh, real Christmas tree, harvested from plantations up and down the country. Tonight, we celebrate some of the best in the business and congratulate our winners: Russell and Liz Stanhope from Bishops Offley Christmas Trees, Helen Edge and Margaret Dungey from Santa Trees Cornwall, Stuart and Jennie Kirkup from Dartmoor Chrstmas Trees, Devon and Robert Morgan from Gower Fresh Christmas Trees, Swansea. And not forgetting a thank you to Jane and Charlotte who have decorated the Christmas tree outside No10 for the last six years, they do a terrific job at their busiest time.”

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association is managed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

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EDITOR’S NOTES

• The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) is the trade association for those who grow specialist Christmas Trees in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Visit www.bctga.co.uk and see @BCTGA
• 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.

Find your nearest grower here: https://www.bctga.co.uk/onlinedirectory