Inside the Leeds arium looking after thousands of Christmas trees for the city this year
Thousands of locally grown Christmas trees are ready to spread festive cheer to homes in Leeds.
All Christmas trees sold at The Arium, the council-owned garden centre, are grown at Stockeld Park in Wetherby, which cares for 500,000 trees each year.
The Arium have been selling Stockeld trees since 2018, and most of the tress are Nordmann firs, the most popular option in the UK.
Stockeld also grow Norway spruce in smaller numbers, which was the traditional Victorian Christmas tree after it was introduced to England in 1841 by Prince Albert. Although it has reduced in popularity in recent years it is still loved by those wanting that signature festive Christmas scent.
After establishing themselves in the soil, a Christmas tree grows about a foot per year, with an average six-to-seven-foot tree being around 10 years old.
The Arium will be selling both Nordmann firs and Norway spruces from 22 November, alongside other Christmas plants like poinsettias and amaryllis, as well as Christmas decorations.
The Leeds City Council-run garden centre and plant nursery is the largest local authority nursery in the country.
Once the festive celebrations are over both St Gemma's and Sue Ryder hospices in Leeds offer their services to collect Christmas trees in early January, from selected postcodes.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “For the eighth year in a row we’re delighted to be selling locally grown Stockeld Christmas trees at The Arium.
“We want to make sure that the people of Leeds have easy access to high-quality trees grown right here in Yorkshire. The Arium sells all kinds of festive decorations, and at the same time lets people invest back into their city.”
George Grant, owner of Stockeld Park, said: “A massive amount of care goes into growing these trees. We have an extensive and very research-led cultivation regime, which includes several rounds of pruning, leader control, nutrient application and, where necessary, pest-control.
“We have around half-a-million trees growing at Stockeld, and much of this work has to happen by hand, so the trees really are a labour of love.”