£6 fir tree planted in couple’s garden 44 years ago to mark first Christmas together now 50ft tall
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The biggest tree in the city! £6 fir tree planted in a couple’s garden 44 years ago to celebrate their first Christmas together in a new home now stands FIFTY feet tall
- Avril and Christopher Rowland planted the £6 spruce in their front garden in 1978
- The tree has grown so large that it is visible for miles and is over 50 feet tall.
- To help them decorate it each year, they borrow a local farmer’s cherry picker.
- The couple have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity by lighting a tree.
A Christmas tree planted in a couple’s Worcestershire garden in 1978 has grown so large over the years that it now stands over 50ft tall.
Avril and Inkberrow’s Christopher Rowland placed the £6 fir tree outside their front window to celebrate their first Christmas together in their new home 44 years ago.
Since then, the tree has grown significantly and now towers over his four-bedroom property.
The fir tree has been so decorated over the years, this year with over 3000 twinkling lights, that it has become one of Worcestershire’s biggest Christmas attractions. It remains the largest lighting city in Inkberrow.
Avril and Christopher Rowland’s Christmas tree, which they planted 44 years ago to celebrate their first Christmas together in their new home, now stands over 50 feet tall. In the image: the Christmas tree last night sporting more than 3,000 lights.
Mr and Mrs Rowland’s tree cost £6 when they bought it in 1978 to plant outside their new home in Inkberrow, Worcestershire.
Asked if the tree was bigger than ever this year, Rowland told MailOnline: ‘Oh yes. It doesn’t go down, it just keeps going up.
Meanwhile, despite the skyrocketing price of energy, the couple said they have no intention of stopping their Christmas tradition and using the tree lights to raise money for various charities.
“This year we raised around £750,” said Mr Rowland.
Mr. and Mrs. Rowland, pictured yesterday, turn on Christmas tree lights on their 50+ foot tall tree to raise money for charity each year. Rowland said they managed to raise around £750 this year
According to MirrorMs Rowland, a 76-year-old retired television writer, said: “After two years of somewhat reduced versions due to Covid, we are planning to bring the tree back to its full splendor this year.
“A couple of years ago our electricity provider gave us a £100 discount on our bill, so we’re going to apply for the same this year as you never know unless you ask.”
‘It just wouldn’t be Christmas without him. It’s been a tradition for so long that we wouldn’t even dream of canceling it.
“During Covid, it served as a beacon of light and I still think people need it now.”
The couple said the tree has grown so big that a local farmer lent them his cherry picker to help decorate it. Pictured: The huge tree being decorated with the cherry picker in 2013
An aerial drone view of the Christmas tree illustrates its enormous scale, as it now stands over 50 feet tall on Mr. and Mrs. Rowland’s front lawn.
Ms Rowland added: ‘It’s a good cause so we’ll carry on and not be discouraged by energy prices.
“Thousands of people come to him, so we didn’t want to let anyone down.”
The couple explained that the tree has gotten so big that a local farmer lets Mr. and Mrs. Rowland borrow their cherry picker to help decorate it.
The couple have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity over the years thanks to ride-seekers showing up to see the mighty tree that is visible for miles around.
The couple have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity over the years from ride-seekers who show up to see the mighty tree that is visible for miles.