A little knowledge.
A better Christmas.
From finding the right tree to keeping its needles on. Start with the question on your mind.
24 guides to explore
Choosing
Types of Christmas tree: a guide to every kind sold in the UK
Nordmann fir, Norway spruce, Fraser fir and the rest: how each real Christmas tree looks, smells and holds its needles, and who it suits.
Read the guide →Nordmann fir or Norway spruce: which should you choose?
The two most popular real Christmas trees compared on needles, scent, shape, price and how long they last indoors.
Read the guide →What size Christmas tree fits your room?
How to work out the right height and width of real Christmas tree for your ceiling and floor space, with a simple measuring method.
Read the guide →Real or artificial: which Christmas tree is greener?
How the carbon footprint of a real Christmas tree compares with an artificial one, and what makes the biggest difference.
Read the guide →Buying
Caring
How to keep a real Christmas tree fresh for a month
Six simple steps that keep a real Christmas tree green and holding its needles: cutting the trunk, watering, and where to stand it.
Read the guide →Why is my Christmas tree dropping needles?
The five usual reasons a real Christmas tree sheds its needles early, and what you can still do about it.
Read the guide →How long does a real Christmas tree last?
About four weeks indoors with good care, according to the RHS. But London Fire Brigade gives a shorter safety window. Here's how to plan the dates.
Read the guide →Why is my Christmas tree not drinking water?
If the water level in your Christmas tree stand isn't dropping, the cut on the trunk has usually sealed. Here's how to check and how to fix it.
Read the guide →Pets
Are real Christmas trees safe for cats and dogs?
What UK vets and animal charities say about real Christmas trees, needles, tree water and lights around cats and dogs, and how to set up a tree safely.
Read the guide →Christmas tree decorations that are dangerous for pets
Tinsel, chocolate, salt dough, glass baubles and artificial snow: which tree decorations UK vets warn about, and what to use instead.
Read the guide →How to cat-proof a real Christmas tree
Practical ways to stop a cat climbing, chewing or toppling a real Christmas tree, based on advice from Cats Protection, the RSPCA and Petplan.
Read the guide →Is Christmas tree water bad for cats and dogs?
Why the water in a Christmas tree stand can make pets ill, why you shouldn't add anything to it, and how to stop cats and dogs drinking it.
Read the guide →Health
Can you be allergic to a Christmas tree?
What 'Christmas tree syndrome' is, why mould on real trees is usually the cause, and practical ways to reduce sneezing and itchy eyes.
Read the guide →Do real Christmas trees have bugs or spiders?
Most real Christmas trees are bug-free. Here's what occasionally comes in on one, why it's harmless, and what to do if you spot something.
Read the guide →Why do Christmas trees smell so good, and why has mine stopped?
The chemistry behind the smell of a real Christmas tree, which trees smell strongest, and why the scent fades after the first few days.
Read the guide →Fire and lights
Are real Christmas trees more of a fire risk than artificial ones?
What London Fire Brigade and fire researchers say about real and artificial Christmas trees, and why the water in the stand changes the answer.
Read the guide →Can I leave Christmas tree lights on overnight?
UK fire safety guidance says switch Christmas tree lights off at night and when you go out. Here's why, plus how to check old lights and use a timer.
Read the guide →Christmas tree fire safety: how to keep a real tree safe
How real Christmas trees catch fire, why a watered tree is far safer than a dry one, and the UK fire service advice on placing, lighting and getting rid of your tree.
Read the guide →What to do if your Christmas tree catches fire
UK fire service advice on what to do if a Christmas tree catches fire at home: get out, stay out, call 999. Plus how to escape safely and what to tell the operator.
Read the guide →Potted trees
Brighton and Hove
Christmas in Brighton 2026: what's on
Burning the Clocks, The Snowman at the Dome, winter makers' fairs and light trails: Christmas 2026 events in and around Brighton and Hove, with dates.
Read the guide →Christmas tree recycling in Brighton & Hove: where to take your tree
Council drop-off points, the tip, garden waste bins and charity doorstep collections: every way to get rid of a real Christmas tree in Brighton and Hove, and what went wrong last year.
Read the guide →After Christmas
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