Every year, our tree inspires discussion, debate, compliments, criticism and, of course, a few good-natured jokes. We know the Christmas tree has become something of a festive talking point in the town, but this year we wanted to explain what is happening behind the scenes and why securing these magnificent trees is becoming increasingly challenging.
At the end of July, the Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerk visited the Council’s Christmas Tree supplier to see first-hand the challenges facing the industry and to select this year’s tree. Following that visit, the Council has now placed its order and is delighted to have secured one of the last locally available 30-foot Christmas Trees – see Glastonbury’s tree below!
While that is good news for this Christmas, it also highlighted an important issue for the years ahead.
A Christmas tree that reaches 30 to 35 feet is not something that appears overnight. These magnificent trees take around 25 years to grow, with growers carefully managing them over decades before they are ready to be harvested. However, the economics of growing trees on this scale are becoming increasingly challenging. A tree that has taken a quarter of a century to grow does not always provide a sustainable return for growers when all the costs and risks are considered.
There are also environmental challenges. Hotter and drier summers are affecting tree growth, with many trees experiencing slower growth rates and greater pressure from changing weather conditions. This means fewer trees are reaching the impressive sizes that towns like Glastonbury have traditionally displayed.
Even when a suitable tree is available, extracting, transporting and installing a tree of this size requires specialist equipment and expertise, with costs continuing to rise.
The supplier explained that very large Christmas Trees are becoming increasingly scarce, and securing them year after year cannot be guaranteed. In fact, the tree the Council has ordered this year was the last locally available tree of around 30 feet.
Rather than waiting until these trees become impossible to source, Glastonbury Town Council is planning ahead. We are already exploring options that will allow us to continue providing a beautiful Christmas centrepiece while adapting to the changing availability of larger trees.
One option being considered is using a slightly smaller tree but displaying it differently. By using an engineered support system, more of the trunk could remain above ground rather than being placed below ground, helping the tree appear taller while remaining safe and secure. This would also make installation and decorating much easier for the Council’s teams.
We want to reassure residents that the Council remains committed to bringing a beautiful Christmas Tree to Glastonbury each year. We will continue to seek the very best trees available. However, the reality is that exceptionally large trees are becoming increasingly difficult to procure, and over time the size of available trees is likely to reduce.
By starting this conversation now, we can plan responsibly for the future rather than reacting when the supply of larger trees eventually runs out.
We would love to hear your thoughts as we consider the options for future years. Please complete our short feedback form and share your views with us.
And yes… we know there will still be plenty of comments when the tree arrives this December! We wouldn’t expect anything less. But we hope this gives everyone a little insight into the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep one of Glastonbury’s best-loved festive traditions alive. We’re committed to continuing that tradition and will keep working hard to secure the very best Christmas Tree for our town for many years to come.
