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Festive Fun with a Pines and Needles Christmas tree

A couple of weeks ago, near the end of November, we were invited to a little Christmas event in Wimbledon. It’s practically on my doorstep so it would have been rude not to attend right?

The event

Pines and Needles were holding a little festive cheer at their pop-up shop where we could go and choose our tree, enjoy some mince pies, fizz and carol singers. This certainly got us into the festive mood.

Choosing a tree

We’ve been buying a real tree for around six years now. Prior to this, we had a 4ft fiber optic tree but once we’d made the transition there was no looking back.

Choosing a tree as a family has become a real Christmas tradition for us. We usually pick a weekend around the middle of December to head down to our local garden centre. The boys love getting involved (although they do tend to start getting bored with the choosing process after a while)  but this is because the trees are usually netted up and you have to open each one to inspect them until you find the right one.

We are quite specific about the size of our tree because it has to fit in a set space in our living room. It means that out tree can’t be too wide. With this in mind, we set about hunting for our tree for 2016. The first thing that struck me with the Pines and Needles pop-up shop is that there are plenty of space for the trees. It’s set within Wimbledon Park, and all the trees are beautifully lined up. (no netted trees in sight) We simply walked amongst row and rows of trees to find the shape and size we were looking for.

About Pines and Needles

Pines and Needles are a family-run business started by brothers Josh and Sam Lyle back in 1995. They use British trees that have been grown in sustainable forests in the Scottish Highlands (this explains the kilt-wearing staff members!) There are now over 20 locations in and around London where you can buy a Pines and Needles tree and if you can’t get to any of these locations you can order online for one to be delivered direct to your door.

Delivery

Once we’d chosen our tree it was packed up ready for delivery the following day. It turned up first thing on Friday morning with two very festive looking delivery men in kilts and Santa hats. I have never seen the boys so excited about a delivery!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNOtZ9_ho5d/

As well as our tree the boys were given little mini trees which they have put pride of place in their bedroom. I needed time to clear out and make space for the tree so we left the tree in its stand (with water) outside for a week before bringing it in.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNb2htehe0o/

I was a little worried whether the tree would last until Christmas (it was delivered to us on 25 November) but we were assured by the Pines and Needles team that as long as we cut off the trunk before placing in the stand and watered it regularly then we shouldn’t have any problems. So far, the tree looks as good as the day we picked it and the smell of pines is just amazing! There are some other tips to make sure your tree survives Christmas on the Pines and Needles blog.

pines-needles-tree

We decorated it last weekend and absolutely love it!! I think it’s our best tree yet. Now all I need to do is wrap the bazillion presents I currently have dotted all around my house!

*We were gifted a Christmas tree from Pines and Needles for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Related posts:

O Christmas Tree – Living Arrows 50/53O Christmas Tree – Living Arrows 50/53 O’ Christmas Tree – Living Arrows 49/52O’ Christmas Tree – Living Arrows 49/52 The Christmas TagThe Christmas Tag Festive Family Fun at The Kingston Christmas MarketFestive Family Fun at The Kingston Christmas Market

About The Author

Picture of Maria
Hello and welcome to Suburban Mum! I'm Maria and I'm mum to two boys - E who's 14 and M who's 11. This blog is about my family, the ups and downs of being a working mum and everything in between. If you want to find out more about me and my family head over to our About us page.

62 thoughts on “Festive Fun with a Pines and Needles Christmas tree”

  2. Amie

    Oo you really just cannot beat the smell of a real pine Christmas tree can you?! We’re used to having a large, proud tree but this year we have a real little dink that is far too big at the bottom but well proportioned at the top (if rhat makes sense?) We feel a little bit sorry for it but on the plus side we don’t have to use two lots of lights this year!
    And those miniature trees are so cute! #picknmix

    Reply
  7. Nadia - ScandiMummy

    These trees are just gorgeous. I love looking at our every day and I love that they were delivered by men in kilts 🙂 Great review, may you enjoy it all through December and beyond #KCACOLS

    Nadia – Scandimummy x

    Reply
  8. The Hippy Christian Mum

    Oh Christmas tree oh Christmas tree how lovely are your branches! It looks absolutely gorgeous. Great fun with the guys delivering in their kilts too. What a great blog gig!:) #KCACOLS

    Reply
  15. Sara

    The tree looks amazing! We’ve never had a real one, and I’ve seen so many this year that I’m really really tempted. I’ll note this down for next year! Thanks for sharing #KCACOLS

    Reply
  16. Adventures of Mummy and Me

    The whole experience sounds amazing! I’ve always loved the idea of a real tree, but not the idea of cleaning up all the pine needles afterwards! The boys look like they enjoyed their personal trees too! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  18. jo

    It looks so beautiful you must have spent hours on it. I was imagining the work involved in harvesting trees from Scotland and bringing them to London before shipping off to yrs. I know this is the model of so many businesses but it brought it home to me as its such a personal service. Love the mini trees for the boys too 🙂 Jo #KCACOLS

    Reply
  19. Kirsty - Winnettes

    I have heard of Pines and Needles before but have never actually used them. I forgot this year but would be very tempted to try them out. I like the idea of delivery. We also have a very specific sized space to fill but would never go back to a fake tree again.
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  20. The Tale of Mummyhood

    Your tree looks fab, and what a great way to go about picking it! It sounds like a great start to the festive season. A real tree is something I’ve always wanted, next year our artificial is out!

    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  22. Katy - Hot Pink Wellingtons

    I love a real tree, but we’ve had an artificial one for the last 3 years as we don’t have a suitable car to transport one home in – this sounds like the ideal solution! A weird tip I was told to make your tree last was to feed it lemonade! Not sure how effective it is, but I might give it a go next year! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  24. emma me and b make tea

    your tree looks lovely! we ALWAYS used to have a real tree but one year, hubby was cutting off the trunk, as you were told too and he ended up cutting too much off and in the end we had no blinking trunk. it was all too much and he was fed up, i was crying. and ever since we’ve had a fake!! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  27. Sinead (shinnersandthebrood.com)

    I love the idea that going to get the tree has become such an event! This sounds so lovely! We have an artificial one but it might be time to chage our ways. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  31. The Mum Reviews

    This sounds like a great service – including the delivery and the mini trees! What a lovely photo you’ve taken of your decorated tree too. I’m trying to take a photo of my tree … I’ve taken 100 and can’t get it to work lol. #kcacols

    Reply
  33. Pen

    Your tree looks lovely and I bet your boys were excited when that yellow van rocked up. The lights from poundland look good too – I must go and take a look. Pen x #KCACOLS

    Reply
  39. Sharon Parry

    How fantastic! We have a real Christmas tree too and choosing it from a local farm has turned into a family tradition. Your’s looks gorgeous! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  44. Tooting Mama

    Your tree looks fabulous, I love it! I’m feeling all tingly and Christmassy now. We haven’t chosen our Christmas tree yet, but we don’t we have a company to deliver ours, I wish we did! Real trees are always the best! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  45. ohmummymia

    Looks fab! your Christmas tree is so beautiful. I can’t wait when we will have our:) Love all events like that I bet you had a great time
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  46. chocolateandwineandillbefine

    This is a beautiful tree! I can’t believe they deliver! This does sound like a lovely way to choose a tree! #kcacols

    Reply
  51. Sarah | Digital Motherhood

    That’s great that you can have them delivered, it’s not an easy thing to fit in a car is it! #kcacols

    Reply
  53. Mummy and Monkeys

    Oh I’m so jealous! I love the smell of a real Christmas tree, we have got our fake one up again this year with being ill we didn’t get around to going and getting one. Next year it’s going to be a real one definitely! Thanks for linking to #PickNMix
    Eilidh

    Reply

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