Thursday 29 December 2011

After Christmas

The last few Christmas trees left on Christmas Eve
The Christmas tree barn looks very bare and empty now that the rails have been taken away and the Christmas trees gone. Time now to sweep up, clear away the counter and displays and return to farming.

Friday 23 December 2011

Christmas turkeys and geese

If you've ordered a turkey or goose from Great Slamseys Farm, I'm delighted to tell you that they are now ready for collection.

We're open until 5 pm today and tomorrow, Christmas Eve we are open from 8 until 1. Follow the signs to the Christmas Tree barn - it's a different barn to last year.

And if you still haven't got your tree yet, we still have a few Nordman Fir trees in the Christmas Tree Barn.

Thursday 22 December 2011

Nearly sold out

The Christmas tree barn is looking very empty as most of the trees have been sold. We still have a few Nordman fir trees left, so if you're still looking for a tree come along to choose one.

Thursday 15 December 2011

No shortage of Christmas trees

We still have lots of Nordman fir and Norway spruce Christmas trees in the barn. Our smallest cut Norway spruce have now sold out but we have some lovely little rooted in trees in pots that don't take up much space and can be planted outside after Christmas.
Outside it's a wet and miserable day but because our trees are in a barn you stay dry while you're choosing and you don't have to take home a wet Christmas tree in your car. So come along to see what we have to offer.
We're open Monday to Saturday from 9 until 6 and on Sunday we'll be open from 10 until 4.

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Christmas door decorating


Do you decorate your front door for Christmas? There's so many different ways to do it from getting out the glue gun and sticking shiny baubles to a ring.


Or making a rustic wreath from twigs and branches.


Or buying one of our ready made wreaths from the Christmas Tree Barn. We have decorated wreaths, plain fir wreaths, mixed foliages and six feet long garlands made from fir. Just hang them on your door to create a Christmas welcome.

Monday 5 December 2011

Happy Christmas Bunting


If you're looking for something a bit different, why not hang some Christmas Bunting? I think this would look wonderful strung across a mantlepiece or along the shelves of a dresser. This year we're selling this bunting by Daisyley in the Christmas Tree barn alongside some more traditional wooden decorations.

Friday 2 December 2011

caring for your Christmas tree

When you get your Christmas tree home and before you move the furniture to make space for a tree, which looked so small in the barn but now appears to take up most of the room, there's a couple of things to do if you want it to last until the New Year. So the tree can take up water, saw off the bottom two centimetres of the trunk and then stand your tree overnight in a tub of water in a cool place before you take it inside to decorate.


You can try to wedge your tree in a bucket or maybe even suspend it from the ceiling but the easiest way to display your tree is to use a Christmas Tree stand. So, secure your tree in the stand and put it somewhere away from radiators and fires so that it's not dried out by the heat.  If it sticks out too far, trim it back. Some people like to cut off branches at the back so that the tree stands close to the wall. It's your tree, so do as you please; the foliage you cut off can be used for wreaths and garlands.


And now you get to the fun bit of decorating the tree. At last.

To keep the tree in good condition, you should water it every day. All the stands we sell have a water reservoir though you have to be careful not to go above the screw holes with some of them or the carpet gets a bit soggy.

Thursday 1 December 2011

Buying your Christmas Tree



There's so many places to buy Christmas trees, it can be difficult to choose the best one. A good place to start is on the British Christmas Tree Growers Association website where you'll find a list of retail sites and if you live near Braintree then come along to Great Slamseys Farm to see what we have to offer. All our trees are displayed in our large barn so even on dark wet evenings you can choose your tree in a light, dry area. Wherever you go, make sure you take a good look at the trees. If they're in nets then it's difficult to tell whether they have a good shape and they may be second grade trees, which is fine if you're not too fussy about your tree, but not a good idea otherwise.

So find a tree that's the right height. You will have remembered to measure up first won't you? Check the overall shape; some people like a skinny tree, some like a wide bushy tree. Take your pick. When you've found a tree you like, give it a bang on the ground. A few needles will probably fall off but if the floor is covered with needles then put the tree back and pick another.


A good Christmas tree seller will put your tree through the netting machine so that you can transport it home and then let the fun begin.