This is when Edinburgh’s Christmas tree will go up on the Mound

Standing at a majestic 60ft tall, the Edinburgh Mound spruce will be supplied directly from Scotland.

The tree on The Mound has always been the starting beacon for Christmas in the capital, and this year installation is scheduled for 8am on Saturday, 7th November.

Edinburgh-based company Bernard Hunter Cranes and Field and Lawn Christmas lights and city dressing, are both involved in erecting and decorating the Sitka Spruce, which was sourced from a forest in Kintyre.

Although grown in Scotland and supplied by Conifox Christmas Trees, the tree continues to be a gift from the citizens of Hordaland to mark the help given by the Scots to Norway during WWII.

Conifox Adventure Park director James Gammell said: “From its origins in 1949 when the traditional gifted tree came from Scandinavia, through to 2008 and beyond when it’s been sourced directly from Scotland, the tree on The Mound has always been the starting beacon for Christmas in the capital.

“Seeing the community come together to marvel at the thousands of twinkling lights on a spruce that has united Scotland and Norway for over 70 years, is incredibly heart-warming.

“Although this year we will all be celebrating Christmas a little differently, we will still feel at home when we look up and see this symbol that is the spirit of Christmas.”

Conifox Adventure Park is also marking the launch of its yearly Christmas tree market, and hope the Scottish grown Christmas tree will encourage Edinburgh residents to source their tree locally, reducing their carbon footprint.

Mr Gammell adds: “As always we will be offering a little magic at Conifox Adventure Park, with our annual Christmas tree market, where we will have hundreds of beautiful firs ready to take home.”

The company said Nordmann Firs, Norway Spruces and Fraser Firs ranging from 4ft to 14ft, would be available from late November.

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