The 12,000 lights on the biggest Christmas tree in the UK were switched on by Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd at Dobbies' Edinburgh garden centre last weekend.


The 75ft-high, UK-grown Sitka Spruce tree was felled from the sustainably-managed, FSC-certified Kielder Forest in Northumberland and was erected by a specialist rigging team using a 90ft crane. The tree was then decorated with more than 12,000 LED energy-efficient lightbulbs.

As well as being the tallest Christmas tree in the UK this festive season, the tree has also become the UK's largest 'wish tree' to help raise money for the Starlight Children's Foundation. Members of the public can write a wish on a Christmas bauble at smaller 10ft wish trees in Dobbies' 26 stores across the UK, or they can light a fairy light online at www.dobbies.com, with all proceeds going to Starlight.

The charity's founder Emma Samms said: "At Starlight we rely on the help of our supporters and we are enormously grateful to Dobbies and its customers for helping us to ensure that this Christmas is truly magical for some very deserving children."

The tree will be recycled on January 6 and shredded into mulch, which will then be given away free at Dobbies stores for customers to use in their gardens.

Watch the arrival of the UK's biggest Christmas tree at Dobbies here.

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