FROM 2ft to 7ft tall, trees come in all shapes and sizes at RSPB Arne in Dorset, and now staff at the nature reserve are taking stock ahead of their annual Christmas event.

The team at RSPB Arne are busy stocktaking the invasive pines that still grow on the Dorset nature reserve, ready for their Pull a Pine weekend on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December, 10am-3pm.

The tallest pine up for grabs measured in at 7ft tall and the smallest, just 2ft.

The event sees families choosing their own sustainable Christmas tree to cut down and take home, helping native heath plants flourish in the space created.

READ MORE: RSPB Arne's Pull a Pine festive weekend returns to Dorset

Across the weekend families are invited to take part in one of the country’s biggest, hands-on conservation events of the year by pulling-up invasive pine saplings at a specially selected area on the site, called Hyde’s Heath.

This helps the native heath plants flourish and provides the perfect home for Dorset’s special heathland wildlife including, the silver studded blue butterfly, sand lizards, Dartford warbler, and summer visitors like the hobby.

After families have helped restore some of Dorset’s special lowland heathland, which is rarer than rainforest, they can then pick their own larger pine tree to cut down and take home for a very sustainable Christmas.