Real Vs Fake – If you’re weighing up which is better for the environment, look no further than this blog with advice on how to buy a tree from Sharon McGill, general manager and ‘head of Christmas’ at Craigies Farm.

It’s that time of year when you might be planning for the festive season and this includes thinking about how to buy a Christmas tree. We’re all doing it much earlier this year due to the ongoing situation with the less popular ‘c’ word – Covid!

As it’s the focal point of the festive period, the tree is one of the first things we think about. One key concern is whether to buy a real Christmas tree or get an artificial one.

The real deal or artificial?

Real Christmas trees are popular with those that love the experience of tree hunting and selecting your own tree that will look great in your home, not to mention the gorgeous natural scent and feel of the leaves and needles. You can buy your real tree here.

The needles can be a problem, however, for those seeking to avoid additional Christmas-related housework! They may also prefer to have one tree to last a few seasons that can be stored away in the attic until the following year. Not quite as exciting as sourcing your tree from a forest or farm!

Regardless of preference, the most common questions people have about Christmas trees is which is better for the environment and which is the most sustainable way to go?

Choosing a sustainable tree

At Craigies Farm we sell top-quality Christmas trees grown here in the Edinburgh area. Our supplier of 20 years, Dalmeny Christmas Trees, are literally on our doorstep and offer an array of beautiful real trees that are all locally grown and sourced – so you can rest assured that the carbon footprint of our supply chain is very low. They have a great range of tree types including Nordmann Fir, Fraser Fir, Korean Fir and Lodgepole Pine, ranging in size from 4ft to 10ft.

Cutting down Christmas trees isn’t bad for the environment when done on a small scale, for example when grown on farms like other produce. Once a tree is cut down, Dalmeny Trees will plant another one or two in its place. This continuous process of planting, growing and harvesting is good for our environment and contributes to the quality of the soil and atmosphere.

Supporting local by shopping with Craigies

Craigies sell trees online through Dalmeny Christmas Trees which are then collected at Craigies Farm. As many of our customers are in EH postcode areas, this means they don’t have too far to go to be ‘rehomed.’

Plus, when you buy a tree from Craigies you are effectively supporting two small family-run businesses, so can feel assured that you are contributing to the local economy at the grassroots level.

If you buy an artificial tree, chances are it is made from plastic and PVC and shipped from overseas. With so many fake trees ending up in landfill, this is really bad news for the planet. If you do go down the faux route, try to store it away and reuse it, as every use will help to reduce its environmental impact.

What to do with a real tree

For those that get a real tree this Christmas, the best thing you do to be eco-friendly is to dispose of it in one of four ways:

• Bury it
• Replant it
• Chip it
• Compost it.

Edinburgh City Council has a Christmas tree collection service and will take away Christmas trees on certain dates for recycling and composting. Information will be online in the coming weeks.

Whether you go for a real or fake Christmas tree this year, one great way of keeping on the right side of ‘green’ is to invest in low-carbon lighting, so buy Christmas tree lights that use energy-saving LEDs and use re-usable decorations made from natural materials such as wood! You can see our range of decorations in our online Christmas shop.

Buy online and collect at Craigies!

You can shop for your tree now online at: https://www.dalmenychristmastrees.co.uk and collect it at Craigies Farm or arrange delivery between 28 November and 23 December.

Simply visit the website, choose you tree type and height, add any extras such as a tree stand or wreath and pick a collection time.

Happy tree hunting!