Family farm to provide festive wreath for No 10

Two men and a woman stand in a field of evergreen trees, each holding decorated Christmas wreaths and awards from a competition. The man on the left holds a large green wreath in his left hand and, in his right, a framed certificate, which reads "2025 Champion". He wears glasses, has a beard and wears a red lanyard around his neck. The woman in the middle holds a red rosette in her left hand, which is held high in the air. She has blonde hair and is smiling widely. The man on the right has a black cap, khaki sweatshirt and dark beard. He holds a circular wooden plaque that reads "Champion Festive Wreath". In his right hand he holds a framed certificate reads "2025 Winner".British Christmas Tree Growers Association

Rob Strawson (left), Poppy Dales and Jay Hall with their wreaths

Charlie O'Loughlin
East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Staff at a family-run farm say they are "overwhelmed" after being chosen to provide the festive wreath for No 10 Downing Street.

Strawson Woodland, based near Louth, Lincolnshire, won the champion festive wreath award at a ceremony staged by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) on 9 October.

Poppy Dales, who designed the wreath with her colleague Jay Hall, said it was the first time the farm, in Little Cawthorpe, had entered the competition.

"We're all bouncing off the ceiling. For a small company like ours, it could put us on the map," she added.

Speaking about the honour of providing the Christmas wreath for the prime minister's official residence, Ms Dales said: "It was never in my dreams because I never thought that big, and now it's happened. It's amazing."

Two men and a woman in green jackets stand in front of a backdrop with logos for the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, featuring red and blue Christmas tree illustrations. They are holding awards and celebrating. The circular wooden plaque reads "Champion Festive Wreath" and the framed black certificate reads "2025 Winner". There is a grey brick wall in the background, with a wooden table to the right and a string of yellow fairy lights hanging down on the wall. British Christmas Tree Growers Association

Farming influencer Joe Seels presents the award to Ms Dales and Mr Hall

The competition, held in Milton Keynes, was open to 300 Christmas tree growers from around the UK.

Winners were chosen by fellow members of BCTGA.

Cadeby Tree Trust, of Leicestershire, was named champion Christmas tree grower and will supply No 10's Christmas tree.

The BCTGA was formed in 1980 and is managed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

The annual Christmas competition has been running since 1999.

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