Thousands travel to mistletoe and holly auction in Tenbury Wells

The tradition returned to Burford House Garden Store, part of Hillview Garden Centres, Tenbury Wells, on November 28, again yesterday, and will be returning for the final time this year on Tuesday.

The auction was almost at capacity the first week, with about 1,000 visitors on the site.

Burford House Garden Store manager, Paul Benson, said: “The first week there was 15 tonnes of holly and mistletoe and 2,500 wreaths and they all sold.

"There was probably a smaller amount yesterday, but a much better quality.

"We had premium holly gathered from the Black Mountain area of Wales, there were lots of berries on those so they sold really well.

"We had people travel from all over the UK to the auction, including the same family who come from London every year and have done for 25 years.

"The auction is going from strength to strength each year.

"The first week we were almost at capacity with 1,000 people on site, this week it was about 800."

Dating back to the Victorian times, the mistletoe plant is very important to the people of Tenbury for many centuries.

There are large amounts of mistletoe on the many orchards around the market town with the plant having the perfect growing conditions in the many apple trees.

Holly is a companion plant for mistletoe and both Christmas staples are available to bid on throughout the day.

The event will be hosted by local company Nick Champion, who has built up a strong reputation in property, land and auctioneering.

The auctions are open to wholesalers, garden centre retailers, florists, market stall holders and the public, with many buyers travelling to Tenbury from all over the UK to purchase the plants.

For further details on the holly and mistletoe auctions, visit Nick Champion on http://nickchampion.co.uk/auctions/holly-and- mistletoe/

To find out more go to gardenstoreonline.co.uk