FESTIVE Forestry Services Ltd, of Ullingswick, and Festive Farm, Wellington, were among finalists in the annual tree and wreath competition organised by the British Christmas Tree Growers Assocation (BCTGA).

Festive Forestry finished runners up in the best spruce category in the judging at Solihull.

The overall winners, Netherraw Forestry, of Melrose, were named grower of the year and will supply a fir for the inside of No 10 Downing Street, while Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm, Paignton, will supply a wreath for the hallway.

Preparations had been in full swing for months at the Herefordshire growing farms for entries in the four categories of pine, fir, spruce and wreaths.

All trees had to be between 1.8m and 2.2m in height. Each entrant was allowed up to two entries in any given category and the judges will be looking for foliage, colour, shape and marketability.

Members of of the BCTGA subscribe to a code of conduct which ensures their crops are sustainable and do not cause damage to the local wildlife.

Festive Forestry Services Ltd is solely dedicated to the Christmas tree industry and was established in 1994. They provide management services to assist in planting right through to harvesting.

In 1995, the business was expanded into marketing Christmas wreaths, offering clamping machines, clamping rings and speciality clamping shapes for the machinery assembling wreaths as more and more convert from hand to machine manufacture.

For more details, call 01432 820801.