A CHRISTMAS tree grower from Rode, near Frome, is going for gold at a competition to be crowned “Grower of the year” and provide the ultimate festive decoration for 10 Downing Street.
Osbornes Christmas Trees is joining dozens of other growers from across the UK to battle it out for their fellow growers’ votes.
This annual competition, now in its 20th year, is open to all members of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association.Â
Osborne Christmas Trees  are entering the following categories: Best Pine, Best Norway Spruce, Best Other Spruce, Best Nordman, Best other Fir.
John Osborne said, “We have everything crossed for success this year. This is the ultimate accolade in our industry and we would be exceptionally proud to be “Grower of The Year” and to provide a tree to stand tall outside the house of our Prime Minister.”
Harry Brightwell, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers’ Association said, “The competition involves voting for a winner for each tree variety and then selecting best overall tree from all those winners. The winning grower of the Champion Christmas Tree is then honoured with providing an 18ft 6” British-grown Christmas tree for the famous landmark in time for Christmas.”
All entries are assessed and judged by fellow growers.
In each section, trees will have been nurtured for around eight years to reach competition height of 1.8 metres – the most common height bought by the public. They will be judged on their foliage, colour, shape and marketability.
The British Christmas Tree Growers Association is the trade association for those who grow specialist Christmas trees in the UK.
BCTGA have a code of practice to promote trees being grown in an environmental and sustainable manner.
This year’s Downing Street competition will take place on Thursday 25th October at Secret Valley, Cobbs Cross Farm, Goathurst, Somerset, TA5 2DN.
John Osborne 07870 466179 Osbornes Christmas Trees. Rode
www-o-christmas.co.uk john@o-christmas.co.uk
