If they are good enough for 10 Downing Street then the Christmas trees grown by award-winning local grower Stuart Kirkup will certainly look good in any home in Devon – and now you can have them delivered as Sue Kemp discovered
The reputation of the Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm for producing trees of the highest quality has spread far and wide and they have even achieved the ultimate seal of approval in the past by supplying one for inside Downing Street.
The farm's achievements don't end there though. Its wreaths, made by its team of expert wreath makers headed by Stuart's wife Jennie, have regularly adorned the famous door of 10 Downing Street after being crowned winners of the annual British Christmas Tree Growers Association competition.
In fact in the 12 years since the farm has been running they have always won something in the competition – this year their firs were named runners up.
"Our Christmas trees and wreaths have won more than 20 British Christmas Tree Growers Association awards more than any other grower in the UK," said Stuart.
"We're successful because we're passionate about what we do and dedicated to producing beautiful trees which are local and sustainable."
Both its trees and wreaths, along with all the usual accessories from decorations and mistletoe, will go on sale at its retail site at Haldon Forest in Bullers Hill, Exeter, from tomorrow, November 29.
And for the first time customers will be able to get their tree delivered and collected again for recycling once the festivities are over.
Looking forward to a bumper weekend ahead, Stuart said: "This is our 12th season up there and it's a great location. We are not really affected too much by the changing weather conditions because we are so high up.
"While the summer has been hot and dry, there has always been moisture in the soil. It has been a really good growing season.
"We can cut the trees down here and be at the shop in Haldon in half an hour so all our trees are really fresh. We are literally cutting every day throughout the season."
Stuart says for the first time this year they will be offering a delivery and collection service.
"We are giving it a try," he said. "Customers can come into the shop and pick their tree and then, as long as it is not further than half an hour's drive away, we will deliver.
"We do want people to still come and pick a tree, because it is such a personal choice. A tree that I might like, someone else won't. And then after 12th night we can come and collect the tree and recycle it.
"There will be a charge for both these services but we have already had a lot of interest."
The farm grows a variety of trees like Noble and Nordmann firs, Fraser firs and Norway spruce, so there is something to suit every home and pocket.
"The Nordmann fir is the UK's number one selling tree. I think it takes up about 85 per cent of the market," said Stuart. "We also grow another variety called Fraser fir which is our bestseller by a long way. It is very compact, ideal for modern houses.
"The reason Nordmann fir is the number one seller is people can't grow Frasers like they grow up here on the moor. The conditions are perfect for them there and a lot of people in the British Christmas Tree Growers Association are very jealous because we can grow them!
"In fact our nearest farm, which is just four miles down the hill, cannot grow them. We have success here because we are so high up."
The different trees offer a choice of style and shape.
"Nordmanns and Nobles are very layered all the way," Stuart explained. "It does not always give you lots of space to hand decorations where as Frasers are a lot bushier which people love and that's because of the pruning we do.
"You tend to find the people who buy their tree earlier on go for the low needle drop variety which are the firs and are obviously more expensive.
"Fir trees tend to hold their needles better than the spruce. As you get closer to Christmas the traditional Norway spruce is more popular – but it doesn't really matter as all our tress are cut fresh anyway so you won't get so much drop."
Stuart said the team at the shop are always happy to talk to people about the trees and how they were grown and how they should be looked after once they have got them home.
One of the most important pieces of advice Stuart gives his customers is to keep the tree well watered.
"You wouldn't take flowers home and leave them in a empty vase," he said. "It's the same principle but on a bigger scale with trees.
"Try not to put your tree by a radiator or fire and keep topping up the water. A 6ft tree will take 1.5 pints of water a day.
"Another top tip is put your tree in the stand while it's still netted because it makes it a lot easier to manoeuvre."
Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm was formed in 1990 and has long been one of the main Christmas tree growers in the region, supplying to garden centres throughout Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
Stuart, a qualified civil engineer, took over the business in 2002 and is responsible for looking after up to 90,000 trees growing at the 23 acres site at Lower Cator in the heart of Dartmoor.
Stuart, who always has two Christmas trees up in his home by December 1, said he loves his job.
"It is a way of life for me now," he smiled. "It can be full on at certain points but I get to work outdoors and it is very satisfying seeing the trees grow and develop.
"I plant them as four-year-old saplings and then it usually takes another seven or eight years to grow them to seven or eight foot. It's a long process.
"We have between 80,000 to 90,000 trees so there is always something to do, clearing, planting, pruning, harvesting. A lot of what you do to the trees is the same process over and over again.
"Some of our trees come from English growers but it's a sad fact that European Christmas tree growers are a lot more advanced than ours. The majority come from Germany and Denmark.
"I buy them normally at 20cm high. From seed it takes about four years to get to that height. If you average it out, they grow about a foot a year so from seed to 6ft takes about 10 years to grow. It's a long process."
The trees which Stuart sells range from 3ft to 14ft and they take pride of place in Haldon alongside their award-winning wreaths.
Every year the Haldon Christmas Tree Centre supports a local charity. Last year they raised funds for the WESC Foundation and this year they have chosen the Paignton-based charity Anode, which raises money to help people in hardship.
"We like to support local charity," said Stuart. "We give a percentage from the trees we sell and we also have collection tins and information in the shop.
"We usually donate around £500 each year."From November 29, Haldon Christmas Tree Centre is open seven days a week, 9am to 5pm. Details: 01803 665064 or visit the Haldon Christmas Tree Centre website.
