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Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns joins victorious grower Robert Morgan of Gower Fresh Christmas Trees, whose tree adorns the outside of No10.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns has joined farmer Robert Morgan from Three Crosses, Swansea as the grower’s fir tree was lit outside No10 Downing Street yesterday (6 December).

Robert received the most votes from fellow growers to win the British Tree Growers Association (BTGA) ‘Grower of the Year’ title, and will now provide the 18ft 6” Christmas tree to adorn the front of the Prime Minister’s home.

Trees will have been nurtured for more than 10 years to reach competition height of between 1.4m and 2.2m from base to tip. They are judged on their foliage, colour, shape and marketability.

Robert was runner up ‘Grower of the Year’ in 2014, and provided a Nordman fir for the pillared state dining room inside No10. His family have been in the sheep and cattle farming industry for five generations, and started planting Christmas trees in 1996.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns yesterday said:

This is a fantastic achievement and is a wonderful way of recognising the hard work that Robert and his family have put in over the last twenty years to produce award-winning Christmas trees.

Small business owners like Robert represent an important part of the Welsh economy, and the UK Government is determined to make sure these businesses have the support they need to grow and be successful, and are rewarded for their dedication.

I’m proud that a Welsh-grown tree has been chosen for this accolade, and wish Robert and his family a Merry Christmas and extend my warmest congratulations to them on this unforgettable day.

Robert Morgan of Gower Fresh Christmas trees yesterday said:

I look forward to our visit to Downing Street today, and my seven year old son Lloyd is especially excited. The tree at Downing Street was one of the first planted at our farm on the Gower, after deciding to venture into the Christmas tree market.

It’s a fitting tribute that this tree, which is almost 20 years old, is here today to signify the years of hard work which has gone in to producing our Christmas trees.