A mad rush for Christmas trees is expected this weekend.

Wyevale Garden Centres, the biggest group in the UK, has predicted that tens of thousands will be sold at its ‘real tree’ events.

The firm’s Shelley Pennine and Birchencliffe branches have hired extra staff to take hundreds trees out of their transport nets and help customers pick their favourite and will offer free hot chocolates.

Over the Christmas period, the two centres sell around 2,000 trees, most of which will be of the popular Nordman fir.

Sue Redfearn with Christmas trees for sale at Wyevale Pennine Garden Centre, Shelley.

Andrew Harper, manager of the Pennine centre on Huddersfield Road, Shelley, said: “Last week was busy with all the early tree buyers but we’re expecting another busy weekend this week.

“We get most of our stock from dedicated Christmas tree owners in Ireland and Scotland, with a few from Europe, and they take six to seven years to grow.

“They replant them so it’s just like buying a crop like wheat.

“Ours vary in price from £20 to £79 and the most popular sizes are six to seven foot.

“We have a few Norway spruces but people now tend to prefer the non-needle drop varieties.

Sue Redfearn and Michael Green netting Christmas trees at Wyevale Pennine Garden Centre, Shelley.

“The amount we sell varies from year to year but we’re not sure why that is.

“We don’t expect to have many left over but we would recycle any locally or give them to a farmer.”

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

To celebrate the arrival of its real trees in centre, Birchencliffe and Pennine centres have donated real Christmas trees with decorations and lights to both Ravenscliffe High School and Sports College and Kirkwood Hospice.

LOOK:

Andrew Tyers, of the Birchencliffe centre, said: “At this time of year, we are delighted to be able to support organisations within the local community and we really enjoyed delivering the tree.

“It was lovely to see the excitement on their faces.”

Christmas

will be here in