TV presenter Jules Hudson has been announced as celebrity judge in the annual competition to find the best Christmas tree in Britain.
The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) has launched the annual competition to its 320 members who will choose the best tree in Britain. The winner will provide the Christmas tree for Downing Street and there will also be a winner who provides the wreath for No 10.
Judging will take place on Thursday 6th October, at Gower Fresh Christmas Trees in Swansea and the event is kindly sponsored by ICL, leading growing media and fertiliser manufacturers.
Jules will pick his favourite tree for a Celebrity Choice award and will distribute prizes to the winners. Jules is a much-loved archaeologist and TV star, presenting Channel 5's On the Farm, Today at the Great Yorkshire Show and BBC’s Escape To The Country.
Jules said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be asked to take part in this year’s awards ceremony. Selecting the best-looking tree for Christmas is often the most hotly debated issue in many households come the festive season, so having the chance to learn from the experts, whilst having fun with such a talented line up of the country’s best growers is a real honour. I’m really looking forward to it, not least because this year it’s in Wales, my spiritual home!”
A new award for this year will be an Innovation Award sponsored by The Professional Sprayers People. The BCTGA Innovation Award is open to all BCTGA Grower and Associate Members and is set to celebrate anything from improved processes, adapted applicators or machinery, production methods or efficient office systems.
The BCTGA, which was formed in 1980, is managed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS).
Heather Parry, managing agent for BCTGA, said: “We are thrilled to have Jules onboard as our celebrity special guest at our annual competition celebrating the best Christmas tree growers and retailers in the business. To win an award here is a real coup for our members who work so hard, all year, growing the best trees in the UK allowing consumers to celebrate Christmas in the most sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Members will choose the Grower of the Year who gets the accolade of providing the tree for Downing Street and the wreath for the iconic No10. We look forward to coming together in October to kick start the 2022 Christmas season.”
Last year’s winner was Marldon Christmas Tree Farm in Devon who provided the Christmas tree for Downing Street after being crowned Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year.
The winner of Champion Festive Wreath was Friezeland Christmas Tree Farm, Warwickshire, who provided the wreath for No10.
The winner of Best Short Film was Hans Christmas Anderson, Surrey, who provided the Christmas Tree for the Foreign Office.
AWARD CATEGORIES
- Best Pine
- Best Norway Spruce
- Best Spruce - Other
- Best Nordmann Fir
- Best Fir - Other
- Best Container Grown
- Best Wreath - Natural
- Best Wreath - Decorated
- Best Short Film
- Celebrity Choice
- Innovation Award
