Fir is Murder?
When I told Chopper (34 year old woman who literally cries with excitement when she thinks of Christmas) that we were getting our tree from Wood's Farm this week I couldn't believe the telling off I got. Until then I'd never really thought about the effect real trees have on the environment.
Despite the fact that Christmas trees are green all year round, chopping them down in their thousands, smothering them with brightly coloured plastic for two weeks isn't.
I preach to the world to drive Smart cars and to recycle every shred of paper they use. Isn't killing a tree every year a tad hypocritical?
I suppose my argument of "I like the way it makes the house smell" is about as valid as "I drive 4x4s because they make me feel successful".
What is the eco-friendly alternative to a good old Douglas fir then? Surely one made out of plastic, riddled with fibre-optics would have to be used for years and years and years before it would pay for itself environmentally.
The average life span of a fibre-optic tree can't be much more than ten years or so, and you can't chop one of those up for compost or replant it in the garden.. although thinking about it they might do better than most things I've tried to plant in mine.
I'm sure real trees must be the greener option. Try to make sure you buy your tree from a local grower that doesn't use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Get one that's got roots so that you can plant it in the garden till next year but if you do need to dispose of it, just set fire to it and toss it into your neighbour's garden. Only joking. You can take them to The Lickey's, Sheldon and Woodgate Valley Country Parks and Sutton Park Nature Reserve. Call 0121 303 1112 for this year's opening times and dates.
Or you could decorate a houseplant. Or go and stand outside a house where they have a particularly nice tree in the window, till someone asks you to move. Or fashion one out of recycled materials - empty bottles, loo rolls and such. Or do nothing, and if your kids insist on having a tree get them to stand there holding a load of baubles.
After mulling this over I've decided I'm not keen on these alternatives. So, sorry Chopper, but for this Christmas at least, I'll be keeping it real.
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Laura Yates - Brummie mum Laura Yates is a 27 year old mother of two from Kings Heath. She gives her take on family life in the city.
I think christmas trees are environmentally friendly. On average they take 7 years to grow, so growers who are in it for the long term have (at least) 7 years worth of trees growing at any given time. As one years' crop is harvested, a new crop gets planted. So there are many, many more trees growing as a result of demand for christmas trees!
I'm going to watch Saw 1 now.