Christmas Tree shortage warning as retailers turn to £15 wooden and metal alternatives. Up next. Published on 04 November 2026 Christmas in the UK could look markedly different in years to come, after tree growers warned that the country's hottest summer on record and severe drought could lead to future shortages. The extreme weather has raised concerns about this year's crop. Oliver Combe, who runs York Christmas Trees and is supplying the tree for No 10 this year, said he had lost 2,000 newly planted firs. The 57-year-old described it as a "tough year" for growers, with "no proper rain since Easter". He added: "For the first time we have had losses in what we planted last year." Growers are now urging the public to wait until the start of December before buying a tree. But what happens if you cannot find one? Retailers are promoting alternatives featuring metal branches and skeletal wooden frames, with prices starting at just £15. While they may not replicate the magic of a traditional evergreen conifer covered in lights, tinsel and ornaments, they offer a practical option. From woven wicker cones to collapsible wall-mounted designs, these minimalist creations made from steel, iron and pine could offer a glimpse of Christmases yet to come. IKEA's 'Strala' LED tree stands 1.5 metres tall, features 180 diodes and offers several light modes for indoor or outdoor use. British homeware brand Cox&Cox sells a "magical and majestic" light-up tree measuring almost 10 feet tall and priced at £135. IKEA's 'Vinterfint' pine frame can be adjusted to the buyer's preferred width and shape, then decorated with baubles, tinsel and fairy lights. IKEA is selling a £15 wooden, wall-mounted alternative Christmas tree. Its designer, Mikael Axelsson, said the festive design was inspired by a "common knob rack". The 'Vinterfint' pine frame can be shaped to the buyer's preferred width and decorated with baubles, tinsel and fairy lights. The flexible tree can also be folded away for easy storage after Christmas, or used throughout the rest of the year to hang coats, backpacks and hats. The versatile wall-mounted tree has an overall customer rating of 4.6 out of five, with shoppers praising its straightforward assembly and affordable price. "I love this and have used it for the last two years. It has had many positive comments," one five-star reviewer wrote. The Swedish retailer is also offering a new tree of lights launched this season. The 'Strala' LED tree is 1.5 metres tall, has 180 diodes and comes with different light modes for indoor and outdoor use. George by Asda, meanwhile, has introduced a five-foot wooden Christmas tree with a star on top, priced at £35. Listed under the retailer's festive furnishings range, the indoor tree has a 4.6 out of five rating based on 28 reviews, although it comes with a 30-day warranty. Reviewers said it was easy to put "together and decorate", with one even describing the design as "cat-proof". George by Asda has also unveiled a three-foot black metal conical "hanging baubles tree decoration", priced at £20. Cox&Cox's Christmas range includes a £75 woven wicker cone described as a "unique" alternative to a traditional tree. Cox&Cox is also selling a smaller £40 'Scandi Metal Christmas Tree' fitted with hooks for hanging baubles. One shopper wrote: "A modern Christmas tree that looks fabulous - easy to put together and very versatile, as it can be made into a full circle or kept slightly flatter when space is limited." However, a two-star review offered a less positive assessment: "Really wobbly, not stable at all. Returning for a refund." The retailer has also launched a three-foot black metal conical "hanging baubles tree decoration" costing £20. Cox&Cox's "magical and majestic" light-up tree stands almost 10 feet tall and costs £135. Its description reads: "Magical and majestic, our festive Outdoor Light Up Tiered Tree has a black metal frame and hinged branches that fall into position to reveal elegantly shaped boughs sumptuously outlined with cluster lights." The large LED tree is designed to create a "stylish outdoor scene" or serve as a distinctive centrepiece inside the home. Cox&Cox's festive collection also includes a £75 woven wicker cone, described as a "unique" alternative to a conventional tree, and a smaller £40 'Scandi Metal Christmas Tree' with hooks for hanging baubles. Debenhams is offering another option: an "ornament display stand" designed to resemble a Christmas tree. It costs £80, although it is currently available at nearly half price. Made from "sturdy iron", the stand has branches that are individually secured to a central pole to "prevent sagging" when fully decorated. Tesco is selling a similar five-foot design with a star on top for nearly £100. By comparison, the Christmas Tree Farm in Orpington told Its News Outlet that it sells a real tree of a similar size for about £60. Debenhams is selling an "ornament display stand" designed to look like a Christmas tree for £80, although it is currently nearly half price. The changing Christmas tree market comes as a survey suggests that as many as one in 10 Britons will put up their tree this week. Four in 10 people believe the traditional 24-day countdown is too short. Once Halloween decorations have been packed away, 17 per cent said they start to feel festive. More than a quarter of those surveyed have already begun bringing out their decorations and listening to Christmas music. Meanwhile, 22 per cent said they would be watching festive films such as It's A Wonderful Life and, arguably, Die Hard. Celebrations chocolates, which commissioned the survey of 2,000 adults, described the trend as "Christmas-maxxing" - an attempt to extend the festive season beyond December. Other ways people are prolonging Christmas include buying new decorations, as 21 per cent do, putting up the tree a month early, as 20 per cent do, and purchasing Christmas pyjamas or presents throughout the year, a habit reported by 18 per cent.

Asda, Burger King and Travelodge join alliance to improve UK financial education. Asda, Burger King and Travelodge have joined an employer alliance aimed at supporting employee financial education. Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and customer experience firm Foundever have also joined the Employer Alliance for Financial Education, which has been launched by workplace finance provider Stream. The alliance's aim is to make financial education part of the employer and employee relationship and offer practical tools to understand and manage money. Members will promote accessible financial learning, share best practice, and measure whether employees' financial confidence and knowledge improve over time. Educational initiatives will focus on financial concepts that shape everyday decisions, such as how interest and borrowing work, how inflation affects spending power, and how to assess risk when saving or investing. Alliance members will additionally promote Stream's Money Masters programme. Employees will also have the option to complete financial literacy questions which help to measure changes in financial knowledge. Emily Trant, chief impact officer at Stream, said: "We know that financial education is most effective when it's delivered around teachable moments that allow people to quickly apply new financial knowledge and skills to their financial decisions. By connecting financial education to the moment when someone receives their pay, they are in exactly that teachable moment that helps theory become practice. When employees feel they're managing their money better, they experience a reduction in stress, which can lead to increased focus and productivity at work." Katharine Gourley, people director at Travelodge, added: "Financial wellbeing is an important part of supporting our people, both at work and in their everyday lives. By making practical financial education more accessible through the workplace, we can help our employees to build the knowledge and confidence required to make informed decisions about their money." James Goodman, chief people officer at Asda, said: "Feeling confident about finances can have a real impact on wellbeing, so it's important our employees have access to the right tools and resources to build their financial knowledge. We're proud to support the Employer Alliance for Financial Education, helping employees better manage their money and plan for the future."

ASDA Great Witley Express Petrol Station has closed. CLOSED: Drivers have been left without the popular ASDA Great Witley Express Petrol Station. (Image: Newsquest) A PETROL station has shut its doors with signs suggesting it could remain closed for some time. Drivers have been left without the popular ASDA Great Witley Express Petrol Station as metal fences cordon off the site. The filling station on Worcester Road has a row of metal fences blocking off access to the site with orange cones also scattered across the forecourt. The ASDA website currently lists the site on the outskirts of the village as closed and Google also lists the garage as Temporarily Closed. Under the header "Opening Hours" the site is listed as closed from Monday to Sunday as well as being listed closed under the "Holiday Hours" section up until November 15. However, November 15 is the furthest the calendar goes on the ASDA website, suggesting the store could be closed for longer. Worcester News has made several attempts to contact ASDA about the closure of the Great Witley petrol station on November 2. We are yet to receive a response. There is speculation online suggesting the site has been closed as far as September with some residents believing it will reopen in Spring 2027.