The Christmas tree has been lit every year since 2004 (Image: SWNS)
A Christmas tree planted by a couple to mark their first Christmas in their new home has become a tourist attraction – after growing to more than 50ft tall.
Avril and Christopher Rowlands dug a hole to plant the £6 fir tree back in 1979.
Now the tree towers over their four-bedroom home in Inkberrow, Worcestershire after growing massively over the past four decades.
The couple have decorated the tree, with the help of a cherry picker, with lights every year since 2004 and have raised more than £25,000 for several charities, including the British Heart Foundation and Alzheimer’s Research UK.
In 2022 they raised £3,000 for Worcester Food Bank and this year they hope to raise thousands in donations for the Midlands Air Ambulance.
The tree now towers over the couple’s home (Image: SWNS)
The tree is set to be lit up each evening between 4.30pm and 9.30pm until Monday, January 6 this year.
When lit up, the tree is one of the only festivals in one of Britain’s darkest villages on account of there being no street lighting.
The Inkberrow tree has even been named as a local landmark on Google and has attracted a string of five-star reviews.
Despite rocketing energy costs, the couple refused to cancel this year’s official switch on and around 2,000 people joined them to see it lit up this weekend.
Retired TV writer Avril said: “It’s a remarkable to think we bought the tree as a sapling really in 1978 and planted it outside after New Year’s Day 1979.
“We had no idea it would grow so tall but we’re delighted it has. Every year people say the tree switch-on marks the start of Christmas.”
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The tree has been listed as a local attraction on Google (Image: SWNS)
To help pay for the electricity bill, the couple contacted their energy supplier who agreed to contribute £100 to their bill for Christmas.
The 79-year-old added maintaining the tree had become increasingly challenging due to its size.
She said: “The tree did have a disease a year ago but we had the lower branches pruned and wooden posts installed to support it and it’s never looked better.
“Obviously, Chris and I are getting on, I’m 80 next year, but we’ve got no plans to stop the Christmas switch on.
“The tree’s roots are probably growing under the house but so far we’ve not had any problems.
“We wouldn’t know what to do if we couldn’t do this switch on every year. It’s become a tradition in the village and beyond which is wonderful.”