Lotmead expands Christmas offering with new tree rental service

For many people in Swindon, Christmas hasn’t started until they’ve been to Lotmead to pick their tree. However, this year shoppers will have even more choice with the introduction of Swindon’s first tree rental service.

As well as their usual choice of thousands of pre-cut trees, ranging from 4 ft to 12ft with a choice of traditional Norway spruce, non-drop Nordmann and slender Fraser Fir, there will be a wider range of pot grown trees available too.

Pot grown trees have grown in popularity over the last few years, with Lotmead’s trees offering tree buyers with the opportunity to have a ‘Tree for Life’ that will grow with you over the years.  The ‘Little Bob’ trees are perfect for smaller spaces or even children’s rooms due to their size, starting at approximately one foot.  After this Christmas, trees can be kept in the garden to enjoy for years to come.

However, as shoppers become more environmentally conscious and may also lack space to keep a tree through the year, Lotmead will this year be offering their Rental Claus trees, where a locally grown pot grown tree can be chosen and hired for the festive period.

Rental Claus is an initiative that Lotmead’s Paul Keene has successfully run from the Pick Your Own’s sister site, Primrose Vale, in Gloucestershire for over 12 years.

Paul explained: “Rental Claus has proved very popular across Gloucestershire through our website www.rentalclaus.com. Renting your Christmas tree is a great option for people who want a fresh tree with all the shapes and smells that evoke a traditional Christmas, but without the need to chop down and kill a tree.

“Our rental trees come in different sizes, ranging from 3 ft to 6 ft and are Norway Spruces, which smell wonderful.  They’ve all been grown locally at our Pick Your Own in Gloucestershire and after each Christmas they’re returned back into the ground to continue growing for another year.  Our customers really love the ability to have a Christmas with a conscience and many people name their trees and request it again year after year so it grows with their family too.”

Rental trees are very easy to look after, as long as they’re regularly watered and kept away from direct heat sources, just as you would do with a cut tree, they’ll stay looking festive throughout the holiday period.  However, it is recommended that a pot grown tree is only kept indoors for a maximum of three weeks.  Rental Claus provides approximately 3,000 rental trees to homes and businesses across the country each year.

Delivery is now also available for pre-cut, pot grown and rental trees within a five mile radius of Lotmead.  Christmas tree stands and wreaths are also available to buy.

Lotmead will be open for Christmas tree purchase and hire daily from Saturday 25 November from 9.30am until 5pm.  For more information on the trees available at Lotmead this year, visit www.lotmead.co.uk.