The Festive Season is upon us and real Christmas trees, grown sustainably and not mass-produced in a plastics factory, are on sale on the Northern Beaches. One supplier, Aussie Xmas Trees, raises funds for Royal Far West, a Manly-based children’s charity.
Royal Far West provides health and disability services and accommodation facilities to kids and families living in rural and remote Australia.
Manly Observer spoke to Rowan Friend of Aussie Xmas Trees, who confirmed, “by purchasing a tree from us you’ll be donating to Royal Far West Children’s Charity. We’re aiming to push our total to over $50K raised for Sydney charities since we began!
“This is the fourth year we’ve donated to Royal Far West. For the first year we sold trees from my garage! Then for the last three years we sold them from the Royal Far West premises on Manly seafront. However, it’s better to pre-order the trees online from our website, because sometimes we sell out.”
Trees can be purchased between 6am and 4pm over the weekends of 3 – 4 and 10 – 11 December from Royal Far West’s seafront courtyard. This is located at 19 – 21 South Steyne, between Wentworth St and Victoria Pde (accessible via a small gate).
There are different size trees available, depending on the height of your ceiling or the available space in the room you wish to decorate.
“The cut trees come in sizes ranging from 5 foot up to 8 foot [1.5 metres to 2.5 metres],” Rowan said. “Potted trees come from tiny little trees up to 5 foot as well. These include Radiata pines, Douglas firs, blue spruces..
“We get most of our trees from the Blue Mountains,” Rowan continued, “although there has been a shortage of Xmas trees due to the weather [La Niña rains]. We’ll be shipping additional trees up from Melbourne to make up for the shortages in supply.”
According to ABC News reports, Xmas tree growers have been adversely affected by La Niña due to incessant rains accompanying the intense weather phenomenon, which has returned for the third summer in succession. “La Niña rainfall and flooding in the Sydney basin and in parts of southern and central NSW drenched farms, killing thousands of trees.”
Sydney grower Will Cappello explained, “Pines don’t like a wet foot, constantly being wet at the roots. So the roots start tending to rot, and the roots can’t survive it.”
Selling Christmas trees is also an important annual fundraiser for local groups such as scouts. We have listed the local sellers below, and welcome any not listed to contact us to request a listing!
Aussie Xmas Trees
Cost: $100 – $275
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, 3, 4, 10, 11 December
Trees: Freshly cut and potted Radiata Pine, Douglas Fir, White Spruce and Blue Spruce
Collection: 6am – 4pm from 19 – 21 South Steyne, Manly (Royal Far West on the seafront)
Pre-ordered trees must be picked up between 6am – 8am on Saturday 3rd or Saturday 10th December
https://www.aussiechristmastrees.com.au/
Other real Xmas tree suppliers:
Harbord Scouts Xmas Trees
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, 10, 11 December
Collection: from 7am at 153 Harbord Rd, Curl Curl (Freshwater Senior Campus carpark)
https://www.harbordscouts.org.au/buyrealchristmastrees
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Fairlight Scouts Xmas Trees
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, 3, 4 December
Collection: from 6.30am at Hinkler Park, Pittwater Rd, close to Manly Lagoon
https://nsw.scouts.com.au/xmas-trees/fairlight-manly-scout-group/
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1st Forestville Scouts
Cost: $ 80 for 1.8m (6 foot) $90 for 2.1m (7 foot)
Date: Sunday 4 December
Collection: from Forestville RSL, 22 Melwood Ave, Forestville
https://www.forestvillescouts.com/buy-christmas-trees.html
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Frenchs Forest Scouts
Cost: $ 80 for 1.8m (6 foot) $90 for 2.1m (7 foot)
Collection: 3 December from 8am at Brick Pit Reserve, corner of Bantry Bay Road & Warringah Road, Frenchs Forest
and Frenchs Forest Public School, corner of Forestway & Warringah Roads, Frenchs Forest
http://www.frenchsforestscouts.org.au/
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Christmas World at Belrose
Cost: from $90 upward
Collection: daily at 206 Forest Way, Belrose
https://www.christmasworld.com.au/pages/real-christmas-trees-sydney
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