MEMBER PACK 2025
About BCTGA
As a non profit organisation, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) is run by a Volunteer Management Committee. Our Managing Agent, Yorkshire Agricultural Society, manages the day to day running of the Association, supported by the Committee.
BCTGA has around 300 members, our membership categories are:
Small Grower (sales of up to 5,000 trees annually)
Medium Grower (sales of 5,001 - 15,000 trees annually)
Large Grower (sale over 15,001 trees annually)
Associate (Consultants, Managers, Market Wholesalers and Suppliers to the British Christmas tree trade)
BCTGA is a company limited by guarantee. This is a type of legal structure commonly used by non-profit organisations, charities, clubs, and associations. Unlike a standard company limited by shares, which has shareholders and share capital, a company limited by guarantee does not have shareholders or share capital. Instead, it has members who act as guarantors.
BCTGA has a board of Directors made up from the Committee Members. The Directors are responsible for the overall management of the company.
Companies limited by guarantee must be registered with the appropriate regulatory authorities. In the UK, this is Companies House. We are governed by a Memorandum of Association and Rules of Association. These documents outline our objectives, rules, and regulations and are available to all Members on request.
Company Structure Vision
At BCTGA we envisage a thriving and sustainable future for the British Christmas tree industry. Our vision is to be the leading advocate and authority for sustainable, high-quality Christmas tree production within the UK, promoting an environmentally responsible industry that brings the joy of Christmas to families and communities, while supporting our members with best practices, innovations, resources, and a commitment to excellence.
Objectives
The objects of the Company shall be to advance and promote the sale of home-grown Christmas trees in Great Britain & Northern Ireland using all relevant research and trials; to provide marketing assistance to Christmas tree growers in Great Britain & Northern Ireland, and to enable growers of Christmas trees in Great Britain & Northern Ireland to exchange information and ideas, and to carry out research that highlights the most appropriate practices available. Providing our members with the knowledge to allow up to date and complaint practices.
BCTGA Committee
The Directors of the company form a Management Committee consisting of a minimum of seven, and a maximum of twelve members. The Committee must include a Grower member from each subcategory and an Associate member When possible, the Committee should include at least one member from each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
RussellParkins Chair
DaneEndChristmasTreeFarm,Hertfordshire SmallGrower
Coming from a family business of Butchers and Farmers, Russell found himself helping out in all areas of the business, but finally settling into the butchery side untilhislate20s.Russelldiversifiedandstartedajoinerybusinessbackintheearly 90s. In 2006 he purchased an 11-acre over-grown Christmas Tree Farm, with the intention that it would make an ideal retirement project, however soon discovered therewasalotmoretogrowingandretailingtreesthanacoupleofmonthsaround December! Russell found that developing the retail side of the business lead to a struggle in the day to day battle of clearing & growing trees alongside other activities.In2017Russellsoldthejoinerybusiness;thishasnowallowedhimtimeto startgettingtogripswithgrowingthatelusiveperfectChristmastree.
Charlie Hood Committee Member
Drynie Woodlands, Inverness Large Grower
Charlie has had an interest in Christmas trees since a young age due to his family’s business. After graduating from the University of Reading with a degree in Agricultural Business Management in 2012 he moved to Scotland to gain further experience He spent time managing a farm in Dundee, and for the past two years has been managing Drynie Woodlands based on the Black Isle, Inverness.
Charlie Spurway Committee Member
Country Business, West Lothian Large Grower
Charlie trained as a Chartered Surveyor, briefly working for Buccleuch Estates before returning to Harburn Estate to join the family business in Christmas tree farming. In 2004, he established Country Business and has spent the last 20 years growing Nordman Fir, Fraser Fir, Norway Spruce, and Lodgepole Pine across five farms in Central Scotland. His trees are sold to garden centres and wholesalers throughout the UK. With a keen interest in the countryside and its future, Charlie's enthusiasm for the business remains as strong today as when he first started.
Dan Dawson Committee Member
Endon Christmas Tree Farm, Staffordshire Small Grower
From a young age I have always had an interest in Horticulture and had a passion for growing. Attending college I was able to gain a good knowledge and understanding that set me up for the industry I love. Based in Staffordshire I spend my days as a nursery man This is my passion and I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experiences with others and happy to learn and take advice from fellow growers.
Edward Barham Committee Member
Hole Park Estate, Kent Medium Grower
Edward manages his family's diversified estate at Hole Park in Kent including farming, forestry, property, gardens open to the public, weddings and events, within which Christmas trees form an important part of the business model. The speciality is growing trees for the wholesale market, supplying outlets in Kent, Sussex and South East London with a very limited retail offer. Approximately 15,000 trees planted per annum across a wide range of species grown to 20ft.
Hans Alexandersen Committee Member
HA Trim, Surrey & Kent
Large Grower
Hans was born in Denmark but has lived in the UK for more than 30 years. Hans is a grower, wholesaler and retailer based in the South East of England where he heads H A TRIM, a family run business. Hans is passionate about the industry and the need to share information. He is always available to give advice and assistance to all growers and is well known for his willingness to help fellow association members
Jonathan Garratt Committee Member
Agrii Associate
After completing my horticulture BSc hons from Reading university (2011), I have gained a lot of experience in the industry; from glasshouse trials at Syngenta, grower experience as technical manager in Hardy Nursey stock and crop nutrition expertise as a sales manager for Hortifeeds where I did my FACTS Now, I am able to tie it all together and offer agronomy support with the Agrii fruit team where I am currently carrying out my BASIS qualification.
I am passionate about horticulture and enjoy meeting people. I also enjoy problem solving and looking at novel approaches and technologies.
Oliver Combe Committee Member
York
Christmas Trees, North Yorkshire Medium Grower
Owner of York Christmas trees , a family run business that grows trees for their own retail site and for the wholesale market.
Peter Alexander Committee Member
Thompsons Garden Centre, Isle of White Medium Grower
Peter oversees crop production including quantities and introducing new ideas and varieties at two Nurseries. Peter also keeps an eye on the Garden Centre as well as running the Christmas Tree Farm Peter has worked at Nurseries and Garden Centres within the group on UK mainland as well as on the Island. He is a trained nursery propagator and is respected by peers and staff.
Rod Strawson Committee Member
Peter Strawson Ltd, Lincolnshire Medium Grower
Rod is involved with the management of the family land holding, which is primarily arable agriculture; but takes the lead role in the production and sale of Wholesale and Retail Christmas trees and firewood The Christmas tree business was founded by his father in 1976 and is something Rod manages alongside his ‘second job’, working as an ecological consultant. He has been involved in the Christmas tree business since his early teens and is still learning some 35 years later!
Rory Young Committee Member
Glaisters Farms Ltd, Dumfries and Galloway Large Grower
Based in south west Scotland Rory’s family run business has been producing trees for their internet and local retail site and their wholesale customers since 1999 Rory was BCTGA Chair from 2022 - 2024.
Sadie Lynes Committee Member
Jadecliff Ltd, Devon
Large Grower
Established in 1984, Jadecliff Ltd / B V have been growing and selling Christmas trees for over 30 years and has established themselves as the UK and Europe's leading independent grower and importer of high volume, quality Christmas trees, giving Jadecliff the capabilities required to work closely with all sizes of customers from major multiples, online traders and all size retail outlets with the further ability and team to be able to develop tailored made ranges & products within niche marketplaces that suit their specific needs throughout the U.K and Europe.
BCTGA Managing Agent
BCTGA employ a Managing Agent to take care of the day to day administration of the Association. Our current Managing Agent is the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
Normal office hours are Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
2024 PLANNER
Main Events and Activities Calendar
SUMMER OPEN DAY & AGM
STREET THANK YOU TOUR
