Spending isn’t the only thing being cut by the government this week.
A 40-year-old spruce from Kielder Forest has been felled after being chosen from 150 million in the park as Westminster’s official Christmas tree.
It will take pride of place at the foot of Big Ben when it completes its 300 plus mile journey from Northumberland to London.
The prime Sitka has been put through a large baler to protect its limbs for the trip on the back of a low-loader.
Richard Cooper, of Forestry England, said: “We’ve put a lot of work into picking just the right specimen.
“But no matter how many years we do this it’s still a bit nerve-wracking watching the tree being felled.
“It’s vital we keep everything intact to preserve its film-star looks. ”
(c) Photograph supplied by Forestry England.Kielder has been asked to supply the Big Ben tree for over 20 years.
“It’s something we are immensely proud of,” Richard added. “The forest is one of the few able to meet this demand and it’s a great accolade for everyone past and present who cares for this special place.”
Kielder will supply more than 200 super-sized Christmas trees to towns and cities across the UK this year.
To ensure sustainability, seedlings from previously selected civic trees have been planted in the 63,000-hectare (155,000 acre) woodland which, with careful nurturing, could still be featuring in city centre displays in Westminster in 40 years.
Source: planetradio.co.uk
