By Indya Clayton

IT'S that time of the year again where Christmas trees become the centrepiece of the home. 

Instead of going artificial this year, perhaps you fancy a freshly cut tree. 

Here are some tree barns and gardens in Oxfordshire where you can have a wander and choose your perfect Christmas tree.

The Tree Barn at Christmas Common – Greenfield Farm, Christmas Common, Watlington

WHAT better place to buy your Christmas tree this weekend than somewhere that shares its name with the festive celebration?

Christmas Common, home to The Tree Barn, sells five varieties of trees all freshly cut for customers to buy.

The Tree Barn, near Watlington, is a small family-run business and three-time winner of British Christmas Tree Growers Association competition for Best Tree.

This weekend is set to be busy as customers head down to choose their perfect tree.

Andrew Ingram, tree farmer, said: “Sales are looking pretty good at the moment. We think this weekend will be the big weekend. Our freshly cut trees are ready for customers to buy.”

Some varieties include, Norway Spruce, Serbian Spruce, Cork Bark Fir and Nordman Fir.

In 2017 The Tree Barn were asked to decorate the Christmas Tree at 10 Downing Street alongside Woods Barn in Birmingham.

Visit thetreebarn.co.uk

If you come and select your tree, a delivery service is offered and pot-grown trees from their Scottish supplier are also available to buy.

Prices start at £15.  For more information go to http://www.thetreebarn.co.uk  or call 01491 614079.

Bicester Advertiser:

Country Grains, Botley Road, Oxford

As well as selling coffees and mince pies, a café on Botley Road is selling Christmas trees.

Jo Devlin, owner of Country Grains, has been selling Christmas trees for 28 years.

This year he has brought the trees to his shop front as well as the empty shop next door which used to be a deli.

He sells Nordman Fir trees from Holland and said that it’s a good way to make extra money this season.

He said: “There’s always people coming in to buy them.  On Saturday it was very busy, but we sell them right to the 22ndDecember because we always get people who come in at the last minute.”

Four deliveries of trees are expected before 18th December and prices range from £50 to £80 depending on the size of the tree. 

Last year he managed to sell 250 trees.

The Oxford Christmas Company – Nicholsons, North Aston

The Oxford Christmas Company only supply 4ft to 8ft Nordman Fir trees only. Their taller trees have sold out.

Prices start at £42.50.  To find out more go to https://www.oxfordchristmascompany.co.uk  or call 01869 340342.

Appleton Christmas Barn – Hengrove Farm, Eaton Road, Appleton

This tree barn sells six varieties of trees including Nordman Fir, Alpine Fir, Norway Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, Blue Spruce and Serbian Spruce.

Pot-grown trees are also available to purchase here too. 

Prices start from £18.95. For more information go to http://www.appletonchristmasbarn.co.uk/  or call 01865 862908.

Hadsham Farm – Horley, Banbury

Based near Banbury, Hadsham Farm have been planting and growing Christmas trees over the last ten years. 

They sell traditional and Nordman trees at the price of £7 per foot for Traditional and £8 per foot for Nordman.

Trees will only be on sale for two weekends due to high demand. These are Saturday 8th and Sunday 9thDecember and Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th December.

For more information go to https://www.hadshamfarm.co.uk/christmas-trees or call

01295 730745.

Bunkers Hill Plant Nursery – 1-2 Bunkers Hill, Kidlington

This ‘garden emporium’ and nursery are selling Traditional Norway Spruce and Nordman Fir trees this Christmas.

With sizes ranging from 3ft to 12ft+, prices start at £25. Pot-grown trees are also available to buy.

For more information go to http://bunkershillgardenshop.co.uk/christmas/