A Powys-based business that has been growing Christmas trees for 20 years has won the accolade of providing this year’s Downing Street tree.
The Christmas tree that will be at the front of 10 Downing Street for the 2024 festive season will be provided by Evergreen Christmas Trees, based at Black House Farm in Knighton.
The business achieved the role by winning Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year 2024, an annual competition run by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) since 1999.
TV presenter Jules Hudson was a special guest for this year’s competition and presented Evergreen Christmas Tree owner Stephen Reynolds and farm manager Phil Fourie with the award.
Stephen said: “We’ve entered the competition every year and were delighted to have won it this year for the first time in our history.
“We entered a Nordmann Fir that’s been growing on the farm for at least ten years, which was selected by the competition’s judges.
“That won’t be the tree that goes outside Downing Street though, as that is still a few months away. We’ve already begun looking for what tree we will send and want to take plenty of time to make sure it’s the right one and of the highest quality as it’s safe to say it’ll be seen by quite a few people.
“Having been growing Christmas trees since 1992, it’s the kind of recognition that feels very validating, especially since we moved away from traditional farming methods so it’s good to see new styles being rewarded in this way.”
The business will be invited to Downing Street closer to the day where the tree will be put up in early December and will receive a tour of the house and possibly meet the Prime Minister, depending on schedule.
Russell Parkins, Chair of BCTGA, said: “The standard of entries has been high and very impressive and I’d like to congratulate all our winners.
"It’s a real accolade for our champions to supply the Christmas tree for Downing Street and the wreath for Number 10 and we hope it encourages the public in our message to support our Christmas tree growers, buy local and buy real.”
This story originally appeared in our sister title, the Powys County Times.
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