MINISTER'S LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Mr German was given a tour of the sales centre by the Forestry Commission's Christmas Tree Co-ordinator, Ian Cowe, before choosing a Noble Fir, a popular Christmas tree which accounts for about 30 per cent of the 100,000 trees sold each year by the Commission.

The Minister then joined pupils from Llanmartin school, whose seasonal educational visit to the forest was arranged by Rob Seymour of Forest Enterprise Wales's education service, to see a Christmas tree being felled at the centre before receiving a surprise visit from Santa, who popped along to present the children with goody bags and free vouchers for the Winter Wonderland skating rink outside City Hall in Cardiff.

"You can't beat a real Christmas tree to bring the true feeling of Christmas to your home," said Mr German. "Real trees look better than artificial ones and have that special Christmassy smell that can't be imitated."

Ian Cowe said, “We have seen schools and families making a special ritual of selecting their Christmas trees this year. A Christmas visit to the forest can be a fun day out for a lot of people who come to get a real tree from us.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

1 The other six Forestry Commission Christmas Tree sales centres in Wales are at the Garwnant Visitor Centre near Merthyr Tydfil, Rheola Forest near Resolven, Goytre Wharf on the A4042 near Abergavenny, Tair Onen Nursery on the A48 near Cowbridge, Penllergaer off junction 47 of the M4 near Swansea and Afan Argoed Countryside Centre off junction 40 of the M4 near Port Talbot.

2 Media enquiries to Forestry Commission Information Officer Clive Davies on 07788 190922 or Assistant Information Officer Marian Gray on 07787 757982.