Red Shepherdess Hannah Jackson will be the celebrity judge of this year’s competition to find the best Christmas tree in Britain, with the winner providing the tree for No10 Downing Street.
The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) has launched the annual competition to its 320 members, with the judging taking place on Wednesday 20 October, at The Tree Barn, Greenfeld Farm, Watlington, Oxfordshire.
Hannah is a Cumbrian farmer who’s featured on Countryfile, SAS Who Dares Wins and is a Sunday Times Bestselling author with her book, Call Me Red. She will select the best tree and wreath after members have shortlisted the entries.
The winner of "Grower of The Year" and "Champion Festive Wreath" will then provide the Christmas tree and wreath for outside the Prime Minister’s residence.
Last year Hannah threw her weight behind a BCTGA campaign to promote buying real British Christmas trees and made headlines after decorating her tree with edible decorations and leaving it outside for chickens and native birds to enjoy.
Hannah said: “I’m so excited to be involved with BCTGA again this year. Last year was so much fun showcasing how to make your very own wildlife friendly decorations for your tree and I’m honoured to be helping judge the best tree this year. Christmas is one of my favourite times of year and I’m so passionate about highlighting the importance of buying sustainable REAL trees that are so much better for the environment.”
The BCTGA, which was formed in 1980, is now being managed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS).
Heather Parry, Managing Agent for BCTGA, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Hannah as our celebrity judge in this very important event in the Christmas tree growers’ calendar. We are very much looking forward to getting together, celebrating the best in the business and crowning the Grower of the Year who gets the accolade of providing the tree for Downing Street. Winning this competition is the high point for the grower as they work so hard, all year-round, growing high quality trees; it really is the Christmas Tree Oscars.”
Last year’s winner was York Christmas Trees, who were crowned Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year. The winner of "Champion Festive Wreath" was Welford Christmas Tree Farm.
The competition this year is held at The Tree Barn, Watlington by kind permission of Andrew and Jane Ingram and it is sponsored by ICL.
Organised by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA), the annual competition has been running since 1999. The BCTGA, which was formed in 1980, is now being managed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS).
AWARD CATEGORIES
• Best Pine
• Best Norway Spruce
• Best Spruce - Other
• Best Nordmann Fir
• Best Fir - Other
• Best Container Grown
• Best Wreath - Natural
• Best Wreath - Decorated
• Best Short Film
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
• 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.
MEDIA CONTACT
Jo Francisco
PR Manager
Mobile: 07954 007414
Email: jof@yas.co.uk