London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2025

'Britain's saddest Christmas tree' is so unhealthy it won't be decorated

'Britain's saddest Christmas tree' is so unhealthy it won't be decorated

If you wanted to find a Christmas tree that sums up the year we’ve had, you probably wouldn’t find a better one than in Flintshire.

The deadened brown needles and lacklustre branches make it look as if it hasn’t seen the sunlight in months – just like the rest of us, as we sit on endless Zoom meetings and catch up with our families from a distance of two metres away with a plate glass window in between.

No offence, Flintshire tree, but you look like something Santa left out with the bins two years ago.

It has a sad backstory, too, to add to this tragic scene.

The tree was planted by a local council after previous Christmas trees were vandalised.

This one is intended to be more hardy, after 2017’s tree was destroyed within days.


The most wonderful time of the year


When a replacement tree was donated, its lights were twice ripped down prompting councillors to switch the lights off before Christmas.

Perhaps out of fear of something similar happening again, this year the tree near the High Street will not be decorated.

It was hoped that a rooted tree would be safer and kinder to the environment, while looking festive.

Unfortunately things haven’t quite gone to plan.

Some have blamed the early summer heatwave and a lack of water, others the focus on Covid-19.


The tree will not be illuminated this Christmas


Social media users have condemned the annual Christmas tree ‘shame’ in Flintshire’s biggest town.

However, some residents applauded town councillors for doing what they can in trying circumstances.

Usually the tree would be the focus of carol singing and school visits but the Covid crisis has caused the cancellation of all festive activities this year.

Flintshire County Council said: ‘Once again Christmas trees have become a talking point on social media.

‘Due to the vandalism of the tree in previous years, it was hoped that a rooted tree would be safer and also kinder to the environment.

‘Unfortunately, the tree has not fared very well in its first year, and whilst not dead, it does not look healthy as pictures circulating on social media illustrate.

‘We have attempted to revive it with fertiliser and hope in time that it will thrive to become a focal point of positivity at Christmas.

‘Unfortunately, the tree has not fared very well in its first year, and whilst not dead, it does not look healthy as pictures circulating on social media illustrate.

‘Therefore, we will not be lighting this particular tree this year.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
×