Want to know where you can buy a real Christmas tree this year? Here's our round-up of places to visit and some tips on how to look after your tree. 

1. Arne Nature Reserve, near Wareham, BH20 5BJ, 01929 553360

Arne Nature Reserve is holding its annual Pull a Pine for Christmas event on Saturday, December 2. Help the reserve remove small pines that threaten the heathland, and take home your own local, sustainable and free Christmas tree. Call for details.

2. Trinity Street Christmas Trees, Dorchester, 07831 796253​

Trinity Street have been supplying trees in Dorset for over 25 years.They supply Nordman Fir Christmas Trees, Noble Fir Christmas Trees, Fraser Fir Christmas Trees plus the traditional spruces, all hand selected for the perfect shape. Open until 8pm on weekdays. 

3. Cranborne Christmas Tree Farm, Daggons Road, Alderholt, Fordingbridge

The farm has been selling Christmas trees since 1980 and has 50 acres with a total of around 60,000 trees. They stock a variety of species including the traditional Norway spruce and Nordmann Fir from 3ft to 12ft. Trees are pruned, weeded and cared for all year round. Open Field Days take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from December 1. Last entry to the field at 3.30pm.

4. Moors Valley Country ParkAshley Heath, BH24 2ET, 01425 470721

Moors Valley is one of the Forestry Comission's Christmas Tree Shops, which means you get sustainble trees grown in Britain. They are selling Norway Spruce (from 4ft to 8ft) along with the non-drop variety Nordmann Fir (from 5ft to 8ft). Open daily from 10am to 4pm until December 20 or until stocks last. There's also free parking when you buy a tree and you will receive a free baby Christmas tree sapling. 

5. Bailey Ridge Christmas Trees, Sherborne, 01963 210999

Bailey Ridge specialises in Norway Spruce and Nordman Fir trees. All of the trees are homegrown in their sustainable forest and are trimmed throughout thhe year. Your tree can be delivered to your home (for a small charge) and can be recycled after Christmas.

6. New Park Christmas Tree Sales, Brockenhurst, 0300 067 4601

At New Park, you can choose your own tree from a selection of Norway Spruce and Nordman Fir, and pot grown spruce and fir. The sustainable Christmas trees all come with a 100% Santa Approved certificate. Open until December 17 from 10am to 4pm.

7. Pines and Needles, 704 – 708 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, 020 3598 4877​

Pines and Needles was founded by teenagers Josh and Sam Lyle in 1995, when they loaded an old horsebox with Christmas trees from their family farm in Scotland and the in-store experts even wear kilts. In 2016, the company hit the headlines for supplying a tree to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8.30am to 8pm. They even offer a delivery service to the following postcodes: BH1, BH2, BH5, BH6, BH7, BH8, BH3, BH9, BH4. 

How to care for your real Christmas tree

David Mitchell, Real Christmas Tree Expert at Wyevale Garden Centres, has issued the following advice:

  • If you’re concerned about needle-dropping, choose a variety of tree such as the Nordman Fir, which is known to retain its needles.
  • Keep your Christmas tree fresher for longer by sawing a few centimetres off the bottom, shaving a further cm of bark off all round and soaking it in a bucket of water outside, either overnight or for as long as possible, before bringing it inside. 
  • Once you have brought your tree inside, make sure you fill the stand with water to continue to feed the needles - trees can drink up to 2 pints of water per day
  • Remove about 1cm of bark, peeled all the way round to help carry the water to the tree.
  • Make sure you feed your tree with the specially formulated feed on the first day of purchase and then five days later
  • Keep your tree away from direct sunlight, draughts and heat from radiators and fireplaces to avoid drying it out and shortening its life. Ideally, try to use LED tree lights which emit less heat and are better for the environment