Study shows incredible benefits of real Christmas trees

British Christmas tree plantations have been found to support various species of conservation concern such as red squirrels and polecats, according to the first ever study of its kind undertaken in the UK.

Biodiversity was scrutinised at sites across the UK in a study commissioned by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) to better understand the role that plantations play in providing habitats and supporting native wildlife.

The research project led by Colin Palmer (BCTGA Technical Advisor) who was supported by Nick Covarr, a Forestry & Woodland Management Consultant, also a lecturer at Harper Adams University and others.

The average 6ft Christmas tree takes 10 years to grow and attracts a wealth of wildlife during its growing cycle. Christmas trees are grown specifically to be harvested and for each one that’s cut, another tree is planted, providing a truly sustainable process.

The study showed fascinating details on the numbers and types of wildlife found in British Christmas tree plantations and highlight the importance they have as part of the countryside environment. Well-managed plantations were found to support insects, arachnids, and both native and migratory birds.

The study found that, by linking arable areas used to grow food crops, with patches of scrub and woodland, Christmas tree plantations contribute to the availability and maintenance of these green corridors which encourage the free movement of many wildlife species.

Declining native songbird populations were found to benefit from shelter and food sources offered by Christmas tree plantations when they are placed in conjunction with native woodland, scrub, grasslands, and arable fields. Red List bird species of conservation concern, including lapwing, skylark, linnets and redpolls were also identified.

Many of the species detected by the surveys, which were carried out across BCTGA members’ sites across the UK in 2022, contribute to a natural hierarchy of predator and prey and so support a balanced environment.

Quantifying carbon sequestration in real Christmas trees

A separate BCTGA-commissioned study, carried out by environmental consultants ADAS, has also shown that British-grown Christmas trees play a valuable role in capturing carbon. The research found that a Nordmann Fir absorbs around 28 kg of CO2 during its nine-year growing cycle, with roughly 23 kg CO2 will be present in its biomass at harvest. This figure does not include the CO2 absorbed during the two- to three-year nursery period or that stored in the form of root biomass or dropped needles, so is likely to be an underestimation of the true figure. To put the figure of 28 kg of CO2 into context, this is equivalent to a typical family car travelling 140 miles. By choosing a locally grown tree, consumers can further reduce the carbon footprint associated with transport and play an active role in supporting lower-impact, sustainable production.

The findings suggest that using a real Christmas tree is significantly better for the environment than the artificial alternative. Artificial trees are typically produced from plastic made from oil, a finite resource and a known source of greenhouse gases, and for which the only means of disposal is landfill, where they may take hundreds of years to break down. The analysis also supports the findings of a similar study in Denmark. The Danish study was a life-cycle analysis that considered the CO2 emissions of inputs such as fertiliser and transportation to the point of sale.

The Danish analysis found that Nordmann Fir trees had, on average, removed the equivalent of 0.6 kg CO2 by the time they have arrived at the point of sale meaning they sequestered more CO2 than was released over the entire production process, a genuine rarity. Viewed in unison, the UK and Danish studies provide strong evidence that real Christmas trees represent a net gain for the environment in the battle with climate change.

Several studies have sought to calculate the CO2 generated in the manufacture of artificial Christmas trees to give a meaningful comparison with real Christmas trees. Research by a European study concluded that artificial tree production emits roughly 50 kg CO2. A Canadian study estimated it at 48.3 kg CO2.

Responsible disposal remains an important part of maximising these benefits. Many comparisons seek to apply the overly simplistic assumption that all trees go to landfill. This is patently not the case and is also the worst-case scenario as it would result in significant quantities of methane (CH4) being released into the atmosphere. Consumers should be encouraged to use sustainable methods of disposal, such as returning it to the grower or taking it to their local waste disposal centre for processing into wood chip and/or compost.

Growers maintain that Christmas tree plantations function much like other woodlands: as carbon sinks, wildlife habitat and part of a sustainable cycle in which each harvested tree is replaced with a newly planted one. This ongoing renewal underpins the environmental credentials of real Christmas tree production, offering consumers a low-impact and climate-friendly choice during the festive season.