Rutland Garden Centre are giving away free Christmas trees to residents for a small donation this Christmas.

2022 has seen the Garden Centre chain flourish, the team adding units and introducing new shops and sellers to their steadily growing retail park in Ashwell.

Now, the independent garden centre are giving away the leftover Christmas trees to local people in exchange for a small donation.

Katey Lester, Rutland Garden Centre team member, said: "We have so many Christmas Trees here at the Garden Centre that need a warm home for Christmas. We cannot bear to put them through a shredder after all the years and energy they needed to grow. We are therefore we giving away cut trees for a donation."

While a few have voiced frustration at paying full price for their tree on social media, Katey explained that they simply haven't sold as many this year, despite ordering fewer due to the inevitable decrease in sales due to the cost of living crisis.

Most have welcomed the gesture, and all are welcome to pop down and pick up a tree as Christmas Day fast approaches.

Merry Christmas!