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Real Trees 2011

Choosing your tree

Norway spruceNorway Spruce - the most traditional looking Christmas tree - has a mid-green colour, a fine, delicate foliage and a distinctive 'Christmassy' scent.
Nordman firNordman fir - has distinctive broad, bold green needles with whitish underside.

Lodgepole pineLodgepole pine - a cheerful green colour, tinged slightly with yellow, and a sharp fragrance.

Scots pine - a really fragrant native conifer with an attractive blue-green foliage and soft needles.

What you say about REAL Christmas trees

Families buying their real Christmas trees at Delamere Forest Park, took part in a special Forest Life consumer survey, scoring their tree from 1-5. The six families made their selection from different types of tree and gave top marks to the Lodgepole pine, with its cheerful green colour and a sharp fragrance:

(Two families tested each tree type, giving combined overall scores) Norway Spruce Nordman Fir Lodgepole Pine
How well did it keep its needles over the Christmas period? 3 2 5 4 5 5
How spiky were the needles? 3 5 5 3 5 4
How did you rate the overall shape of the tree? 4 4 5 5 5 4
Were the branches easy to decorate? 4 4 5 2 5 5
How pleasant was the smell? 3 no scent 2 4 5 3
Individual tree score 17 15 22 18 25 21
Overall scores 32 40 46