Carol, Lily and Andrew take part in a tradition that is much loved in this country, and across the globe, getting a real Christmas tree.
There is joy in buying a real Christmas tree, especially if you have a local seller. Andrew buys his Christmas tree from the local pub and says he, “just needs to stick it over [his] shoulder and then carry it up two flights of stairs”. Carol goes one step further “I get one that is grown locally, or at least that is what I am told”. Choosing a tree, whether you bring it home yourself or get it delivered is a pleasure for many of us and for Andrew “it makes the flat smell incredible, and it looks cool.” Lily researched options including renting a tree in a pot before buying a cut tree this year.
But what happens after Christmas?
Whether you wait until twelfth night or not, there comes a time when the tree decorations are gone and you have a large lump of wood, with lots of spiky branches and dehydrating needles, to dispose of. If your Christmas tree seller offers a take-back service they will collect it, but if yours doesn’t, you have a potentially large task on your hands.
Your tree has recently been alive and, in part, may still be. It is possible to burn your Christmas tree, but it can be bad for you, your home and your neighbourhood. The wood is full of moisture that makes the wood hard to burn, and sap and oils that can flare up when burnt, producing sparks and even damaging your wood burning stove. If you burn this wet wood in a fireplace or wood burning stove, and live in a Smoke Control area, you will be breaking Smoke Control Area rules.
Taking the tree outside and burning it in your garden will produce a lot of smoke that includes harmful particulate matter and toxic compounds from the sap and oils. As well as being harmful to you and your neighbours, it could be a statutory nuisance, and cause issues with your neighbours.
If you want to season the wood so that it is safe to burn you need to cut the tree up and dry the wood for more than two summers. During this time, it needs to be stored off the ground and under cover. Most urban and suburban gardens will not have space to safely store 2-3 years of Christmas trees.
There are other easier, simpler ways to get rid of your tree. Many councils have designated days for tree collections or specific places where you can leave Christmas trees. These trees are collected and chipped to make mulch or compost for local parks and gardens. Check what your local authority offers here or check out paid for tree collections here.
Carol lives in Richmond where kerbside Christmas tree collection runs from 5-16 January, “you put it outside on the pavement … and they collect it and they recycle it”. Southwark Council also offers a free Christmas tree recycling scheme and Andrew will carry the tree downstairs and “[Southwark Council] come around and collect them”. There are other creative ways to make use of your old tree. Lily will be recycling her tree at home and said that she will cut the branches off and “give to the chickens to play with” and then use the trunk of the tree “to make some sort of a bug hotel in the garden”.
Have a lovely Christmas and, join us recycling our trees in a non-polluting way.
