Maroc - TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - Hier 00:35

A special tree heads to Westminster

This Christmas, a beautiful tree from Forestry England Kielder is making a 330-mile journey to stand beside the Houses of Parliament, bringing festive cheer to the heart of Westminster. Source: Timberbiz One of Kielder Forest’s 150 million trees, the 40-foot Sitka spruce was carefully selected by experts at Forestry England for its perfect shape and impressive size. This iconic tree will stand at the foot of the Houses of Parliament throughout the festive period. Once the tree has been chosen, Forestry England’s skilled team carefully cuts down the tree to prevent any damage to its branches. It’s then wrapped, loaded, and ready for its long trip to London. To ensure the tree is as sustainable as possible, Forestry England selects it from an open area in the forest to allow ground plants flourish. After Christmas, the tree will be chipped and reused in London’s parks and green spaces, continuing to benefit the environment. Richard Cooper, Beat Forester at Forestry England, said: “Felling this tree is a highlight of my year. It has to be just right, and it’s a great feeling to see it standing next to the Houses of Parliament. Getting it safely from Northumberland to London is a skilful process, and I’m proud knowing that so many people will enjoy it in Westminster.” This year’s spruce, which started life about 40 years ago, is one of 120 trees from Forestry England Kielder that will bring Christmas cheer across the UK, with others heading to places including Ipswich, Sheffield, and Stockton-on-Tees. Another 25ft tree has been delivered to Westminster Hall and a 12ft tree will stand in the Speaker’s House. Kielder Forest is already preparing for the future, planting thousands of seedlings to keep this tradition alive and to supply timber locally.