The word legend refers to a story that may or may not be based on truth and brings to mind images of fairies, hobbits and mystical creatures.

Someone referred to me as “a legend” the other day just for giving them the price of a coffee.

I think I need to achieve a great deal more before I can command such a title but it was a nice response to a simple act. Then I heard that a “living legend” in the form of George Clooney had moved in just around the corner in Sonning. A Hollywood legend on my doorstep, whatever next? As I pondered on my new neighbour I have been brought down to earth by the reality that Christmas is only a stone’s throw away and there is still so much to do before the day arrives.

Chief on the list of things to do is the selection of a Christmas tree. Where does the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree originate from? Way back in the 8th Century, legend has it that St. Boniface, who was born in England, went to Germany as a missionary to convert the pagans to Christianity.

When he saw the pagans worshipping around an Oak tree and carrying out sacrifices he was horrified and instantly took an axe to cut down the Oak where upon an evergreen tree is reputed to have sprung up in its place.

Now the sceptics among you may consider this a dubious story but then so did the people of Sonning when they first heard that George Clooney had come to live alongside them. I’ll leave you to decide how much truth there is in the legend. The Germans developed the tradition of bringing a tree inside to decorate and Queen Victoria’s consort, Albert, is said to be responsible for bringing this German custom to England in the 1800s.

There you have it, a potted history of the Christmas tree but now for the practicalities. What do we look for in a good Christmas tree? High on many people’s hit list is a tree that doesn’t drop its needle like leaves too readily. What can you do to reduce leaf drop? Choose a Nordman Fir as they hold their needles well. Select a tree that has been recently harvested and give it a good shake before bringing it indoors to ensure any loose needles are removed before you decorate it.

Give it a good soak by leaving it in a bucket of water before bringing it indoors to rehydrate it and try to position it away from radiators.

For me, buying a Christmas tree is all about shape and scent. I like the tree to be fat at the bottom and to taper gradually and I like to walk into a room and smell that fresh woodland smell. It reminds me of walking in the mountains with clean fresh air. So when selecting your tree, get someone to hold it up and walk around it to check its overall shape. The Scots Pine is deemed to be one of the very best trees for low leaf drop and the scent from a pine is just delicious. A pine may be more difficult to get hold of, however, as pines are less frequently used as the traditional Christmas tree here in the UK.

The traditional species used in Britain is the Norway spruce. The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square is a spruce which is given by the people of Norway to Britain each year as a thank you for assistance received in the Second World War. Be warned though, the Norway spruce does not hold its needles well when brought into a centrally heated home.

Some people like to grow their own Christmas trees in the garden after the festive season is over and will buy a potted form rather than a cut tree. The tree is not likely to thrive if it sits in a warm dry environment for long so try to bring it into the house as close to Christmas as possible and plant it out in the garden as soon as you can afterwards.

We grow a lot of Christmas trees here in Berkshire and it’s nice to know that you are supporting our own community if you buy a locally farmed tree.

The Yattendon Estate, for example, will be harvesting in the region of 60,000 trees this season all of which have been grown on the estate and they sell directly to the public as well as wholesale. From an environmental point of view it surely makes sense to buy close to the point of harvest. Also if it has been freshly harvested it is more likely to retain its needles for longer than a tree that has been cut for several weeks.

So if you can’t have George Clooney in your stocking this year you can still celebrate the legend of the Christmas tree and make an event of choosing your specimen. Have a wonderful holiday and a very happy New Year to you all.

Next year we will look at many aspects of garden design and give hints and tips for improving all or part of your garden so watch this space.

For more visit www.unique-gardens.co.uk