It's healthy under the mistletoe as all eyes turn to Tenbury Wells - pictures
[gallery] It may have only just turned properly cold but the mistletoe crop is much healthier this year, as national sales get under way for Christmas.
It is the time of year when all eyes turn towards Tenbury Wells as buyers and sellers of seasonal foliage descend on the town from across the county.
Tenbury Wells prides itself on being the mistletoe capital of England, in part due to its location in the heart of orchard country on the border of south Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire – as mistletoe grows as a parasitic plant on the apple trees.
But yesterday sellers come from all over, bringing everything from sprigs of the festive kissing plant to holly, ready-made wreaths and Christmas trees.
Auctioneer Nick Champion, over seeing the first of three weekly auctions at Burford House Garden Store, said prices were up this year, as was the quality.
He said: "We had about 650 lots of holly and mistletoe and about 900 to 1,000 wreaths. The holly was probably the dearest we've ever had but I think it was just down to supply on the day.
"There was not a lot of it, but a lot of buyers.
"I think we'll see more of it next week.
"The mistletoe was pretty good, going for about £2 a kilo when on average it's usually about £1.50.
"It's very good this year. It didn't seem to ripen up last year as we didn't have an early frost, but this year it's looking much better."
He said buyers had come from as far and wide as London and Scotland.
The auctions are every Tuesday from this week, while Tenbury Wells holds it annual Mistletoe Festival of arts all day on Saturday, at multiple venues around town from 11am.
