Keeping It Real this Christmas

Small steps. Big impact. Giant Leap. One habit at a time.

This year at Smiley Monroe, we’ve been promoting biodiversity as part of our Giant Leap sustainability strategy. So we’re putting what we’ve learned into practice by turning commitment into action.

When it came to buying a tree, we chose to make a positive impact by buying a sustainably grown real Christmas tree from Greenmount Farm. This way we’re contributing to the wellbeing of our environment by supporting a family business and local, sustainable farming practices.

It’s also a festive reminder that sustainability starts close to home — because it isn’t achieved through lofty promises, but through many smart, responsible decisions made consistently, every day.

Real Christmas Trees and Biodiversity: Why Local Matters

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) estimates that around five million real Christmas trees are bought each year in the UK. That’s a lot of festive joy — and a real opportunity to make greener choices.

Greenmount Farm, grown in the beautiful Drumlin landscape just three miles from Lisburn, is a working Christmas tree plantation where sustainability and biodiversity go hand in hand. Their trees are grown as a horticultural crop, and the plantation itself acts as a thriving habitat for wildlife.

Choosing a local, sustainably grown real Christmas tree supports ecosystems and communities — proof that small steps can create a bigger ripple.

How to Buy a Christmas Tree Sustainably

Below are the simple, practical things our environmental sustainability champions (aka the Green Giants) found when they dug deeper into real tree growing.

1. Ask first

It’s a great idea to ask about the environmental credentials of the tree you’re buying. Greenmount Farm points out that their plantation is a rich habitat for wildlife, where trees are grown as a horticultural crop and aren’t felled from pre-existing forests that contribute to deforestation.

2. Buy local and real

Buying a local, sustainably grown, real Christmas tree reduces travel miles and supports the local economy. According to the Carbon Trust, a two-metre artificial tree has a carbon footprint of around 40kg — more than ten times that of a real tree that’s burned after Christmas.

3. Look for organic growing

In an organic tree farm, no harmful pesticides are used. Woodland and meadow plants (wildflowers) feed bees and insects, which consume pests on the trees. Those insects feed birds, bats and shrews; seeds feed field mice and voles; and the trees provide shelter for wildlife across the plantation.

4. Understand the growth cycle

It takes around 10–12 years to grow to the most popular size of 6 feet. While growing, trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Greenmount Farm has trees of different ages, so only some are harvested every year, leaving woodland intact with its flora and fauna.

What to Do With Your Tree After Christmas

Sustainability doesn’t stop on December 26th. Here are smart ways to keep the benefits going:

5. Recycle through local collections

Ask your local council if they offer Christmas tree collection and chipping services. Woodchip can be used for mulching. Alternatively, compost your tree and use it as a soil improver.

6. Reuse it as a Bug Hotel

Another option is to reuse your tree as a Bug Hotel — a cosy home for bugs in your garden.

7. Donate to a zoo (if accepted)

Some zoos take donations of unwanted trees for animal shelter and food foraging, with excess trees chipped for enclosures and mulch. Always check with them first.

8. Use it as firewood

Using your old tree as firewood reduces potential CO2e emissions by around 80% compared to landfill. In landfill, trees decompose and release methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

A Small Seasonal Choice With a Giant Leap Impact

A Christmas tree might feel like a once-a-year purchase, but five million UK households making a better choice adds up fast.

For us, choosing a sustainably grown real Christmas tree was one simple decision that supports biodiversity, local farming, and a healthier environment.

Because sustainability isn’t one big heroic act — it’s many responsible choices, made daily.

Giant Leap

Our “Giant Leap” strategy drives innovation and sustainability, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We’re reducing our environmental impact, supporting communities, and paving the way toward a better future for our industry.

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