Festive cheer was brought to Ottery with one of our own Christmas trees – grown less than two miles from the town centre.

The tree was put up outside the library in Silver Street by a team from the garden centre just in time for the town’s late night Christmas shopping event.

Ottery resident Richard Coley, who makes sure a tree goes up every year, teamed up with representatives from Otter to help decorate and add the all-important fairy lights.

Branch Manager John Giblin, who was on hand helping to hang the baubles, said: “We were delighted to supply a homegrown tree again this year and to support the late night shopping with a central point for festive carol singing.

“Last year we had a bit of a challenge due to extreme winds, but I’m glad to say that this time round, the tree went up without a hitch!”

The Nordmann Fir is known for having very little needle drop, so Ottery’s tree will look good until the day it is taken down. It was grown on the company’s site for 10 years prior to being cut, providing shelter and food for wildlife.

John added: “We also have beehives on our Christmas tree growing site and the bees make great use of the pollen produced by the fir trees, using it to feed their larvae.”

Otter’s policy is to plant a new tree for each one cut, meeting sustainable aims. When the Ottery tree is taken down in the new year, it will be recycled through the local council’s recycling scheme.