by SWNS
The couple’s first Christmas tree planted in their garden 44 years ago now stands 50 feet tall and is the brightest landmark for miles
A couple’s first Christmas tree they planted in their garden 44 years ago and which now stands 50 feet tall is the only bright landmark in one of Britain’s darkest villages.
Avril and Christopher Rowlands dug a hole for their £6 Spruce outside their window to celebrate their first Christmas together at their new home in 1978.
More than four decades later, the massive tree now towers over their four-bedroom single-family home.
Over the years, the couple has decorated the tree with 3,000 festive lights, which they turn on every December.
The lighted tree is now the only lighting in Inkberrow, Worcs. which is one of the darkest villages in Britain due to a lack of street lighting.
Despite skyrocketing energy costs, the couple refused to cancel this year’s official lighting and some 2,000 people joined them to see it lit on Saturday (3/12) night.
Retired TV writer Avril, 76, said: ‘After two years of somewhat reduced releases due to Covid, we are planning to restore the tree to its full glory this year.
“A couple of years ago our electricity supplier actually gave us £100 off our bill, so this year we’ll be asking for the same, because you never know unless you ask.
“It just wouldn’t be Christmas without it, it’s been a tradition for so long now that
we wouldn’t even dream of deleting it.
“During Covid it served as a beacon of light and I still think people need it now.
“The only thing we didn’t do was serve coffee from our garage, but we did get a mobile van that did it for us.
“There was also a vintage children’s fair there and we hope we raised a lot of money for charity.
“It’s a good cause, so we’ll move forward and not be deterred by energy prices.
“Thousands of people showed up for it, so we didn’t want to disappoint anyone.”
The tree is so big that a farmer lends the couple his cherry picker to help them decorate it with 3,000 lights.
The couple raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity from well-wishers who turned up to see the incredible fir tree which is visible from miles away.
