It’s a grand affair (Picture: SWNS)
A Christmas tree planted in 1978 has grown so big over the years that it’s become a local attraction.
Avril and Christopher Rowlands put their little £6 fir outside their front window to mark their first Christmas together in their then-new new home 44 years ago.
Since then, the tree has grown to a towering 50ft and now towers over their four-bedroom home.
It’s been decorated to such a degree over the years, with 3,000 Christmas lights these days, that when they switch it on every December, it’s the town of Inkberrow, Worcestershire’s only illumination.
Even though the price of energy has skyrocketed, they have no plans to stop what has become an annual festive tradition.
Retired TV writer Avril, 76, said: ‘After two years of somewhat scaled-back versions due to Covid, we’re planning to get the tree back to its full glory this year.
The tree in 1979 after it was first planted (Picture: SWNS)
And in 1989 (Picture: SWNS)
And again in 2010 (Picture: SWNS)
‘A couple of years back our electricity provider actually gave us £100 off our bill, so we’re going to request the same this year as you never know unless you ask.
‘It just wouldn’t be Christmas without it, it has been a tradition for so long now that we wouldn’t even dream of cancelling it.
‘During Covid, it served as a beacon of light and I still think people need that now.
The tree getting decorated with the cherry picker in 2013 (Picture: SWNS)
An aerial view of the giant Christmas tree in 2019 (Picture: SWNS)
Avril and Christopher with the tree today (Picture: SWNS)
‘The only thing we didn’t do was serve coffee from our garage, but we got a mobile van that did that for us.
‘There was also a vintage children’s funfair there, and we have hopefully raised lots of money for charity.
‘It’s a good cause, so we will carry on and not be put off by the energy prices.
‘Thousands of people turn out for it, so we didn’t want to let anybody down.’
Now it’s a town tradition (Picture: SWNS)
‘It just wouldn’t be Christmas without it’ (Picture: SWNS)
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The tree is so big, a local farmer lets Avril and Christopher borrow his cherry picker to help them decorate it.
Thanks to the tree, the couple has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity from well-wishers who show up to view the incredible fir which is visible for miles.
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2,000 people joined them to see it lit up on Saturday night.
