Festive fun to begin with trees up for sale

Christmas trees will go on sale at the Forestry Commission's Winter Wonderland event at Cannock Forest.

The event at Birches Valley Centre, near Rugeley, on November 29 will feature Father Christmas arriving with reindeer.

It runs from 11am but the trees go on sale two hours earlier. Experts from the Forestry Commission in the West Midlands have launched Operation Christmas Tree this week to ensure that some of the region's leading public venues and civic sites receive an extra touch of festive sparkle.

Foresters are carrying out the operation to fulfil orders in time for the seasonal celebration, as well as running busy public Christmas tree sales centres around the region, including the Forestry Commission's largest outlet in Britain at Cannock Forest.

For the 11th year running, the Forestry Commission has donated the largest of the trees, a mighty 35ft fir tree, to the Birmingham Children's Hospital, which will transported and winched into place tomorrow.

Andy Coggins, visitor services manager for the Forestry Commission in the West Midlands, said: "We're very proud to be supplying so many of the trees that will be in public places around the West Midlands, including the tree we donate to Birmingham Children's Hospital each year.

"This year's biggest tree, a 35-foot Nordmann Fir, will look stunning outside the hospital for everyone to see. Cannock and Ludlow are some of the few places in Britain capable of supplying large civic trees to venues like this."

Forestry and haulage experts are felling and transporting more civic Christmas trees around the region to brighten up businesses and public venues.

The Forestry Commission will be selling a range of more modest sized trees at its sales centres at Cannock Forest, Sence Valley in Leicestershire and Rosliston in Derbyshire, as well as giving advice on the best tree to buy and how to care for them.

Varieties of tree will include the popular Nordmann Fir, Lodgepole Pine and traditional Norway Spruce which are all sourced from the UK. Prices start from only £20 depending on size and species.

For more information on where to buy real Christmas trees visit www.forestry. gov.uk/westmidlands