With lots of digging and hard work, Ty Cerrig Christmas Tree Farm is prepared for this year as every other year
pictured next to Santa. (Picture credit: Ty Cerrig)
Ty Cerrig is located in Bonvilston, housing Christmas trees that are either ready-cut, choose and cut, or pot grown.
Despite there being a Christmas tree shortage warning issued in Wales, Ty Cerrig is “ready to see all the lovely families returning to the farm, just one year older,” said its owner, Helen Reynolds from Beguildy.
The demand for Christmas trees isn’t a cause of concern to Helen, whom together with her family, have taken over this business. Ty Cerrig has been under their care for five years now.
The farm houses an array of Christmas trees across 24 acres. “The trees that aren’t picked stay in the ground and grow for another year,” said the 54-year-old.
Celebrating the trees
Tree Dressing Day on 4 December is an annual celebration of trees, initiated in 1990 by Common Ground, a Dorset based charity dealing with community conservation and environmental education.
It’s a day for decorating Christmas trees to one’s hearts’ content, but more importantly, according to National Today, showing value and care for the role of trees in everyday life.
“It’s a wonderful thing to do with a glass of wine, and with family and friends around you. Designs change every year, and can be very personal,” said Helen.
Planning consultant Michael Muston from Bath, 66, said, “I have always loved the look and smell of real Christmas trees, and being a keen gardener, I love the origins of Christmas Tree Dressing Day as a way of celebrating our relationship with the trees that grow around us.”
“I love the origins of Christmas Tree Dressing Day as a way of celebrating our relationship with the trees that grow around us.”
Michael has a special decoration which he brings out each year to celebrate the joy of Christmas, and it’s in the form of a small but sentimental item.
“I have a decoration that always has to go on our Christmas tree. It’s a little Father Christmas, made of pipe cleaners that my parents bought for my first Christmas in 1955,” he said.
He continued, “After they both passed away a decade or so ago, I inherited it, and it reminds me of our old family Christmases.”
Tree care
Ty Cerrig’s tips to maximise your real Christmas tree lifespan:
1. Before bringing your Christmas tree indoors, let your freshly cut tree stand outside for about a day in a bucket of water.
2. Treat your tree like a cut flower: cut ½ inch off the trunk prior to placing it in a water holding stand.
3. The tree drinks up lots of water. Therefore, be sure to top-up when necessary.
4. Display your tree as far away as possible from a heat source.
5. Remember, your Christmas tree will last longer if it’s thoroughly watered and kept cool.