Tree of The Week Picea Abies / Norway Spruce

This is my first tree of the week and it seemed only fittng to use Picea abies, best known in Britain as the classic Christmas tree.

This large evergreen conifer can grow to heights of 130ft/40m, at a rate between 1 and 3ft a year depending on conditions. It is not  native to Britain and is thought to have been introduced at some time around 1500. It’s use as a Christmas tree only dates back to the 1840′s when Prince Albert and Queen Victoria decorated trees at Windsor Castle, it’s conical shape making it popular.  As well as its use for Christmas the Norway Spruce is also grown extensively for timber and its long straight lengths make it ideal for telegraph poles. It is also an ideal wind break as it keeps many of it’s lower branches.