YouTube farmer Joe Seels to front national Christmas tree competition
YouTuber and South Yorkshire farmer Joe Seels will host this year’s British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) competition to find the best Christmas tree in Britain. The annual event involves around 300 members and awards the winner the honour of providing the Christmas tree for 10 Downing Street, along with a separate prize for the best festive wreath.
The 2025 competition, headline sponsored by Agrii, will take place on Thursday 9 October at Stoke Goldington Christmas Trees, Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes. Agrii provides agronomic advice and farm intelligence to support growers across the UK.
Joe, a beef and arable farmer whose YouTube channel draws over a million views a month, will also select his favourite entry for a Celebrity Choice Award and present prizes to the winners. “I’m really excited to be involved with the BCTGA this year,” he said. “When we were kids, we used to sell Christmas trees from the farm, so looking at all those Nordmann Firs and Norway Spruces will take me right back!”
“Nothing beats a real British tree at home—the smell, the sustainability, and knowing you’re supporting local business and wildlife,” Joe added.
Formed in 1980 and managed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the BCTGA celebrates the people and businesses who grow the festive centrepieces for homes across the UK. “We’re delighted to welcome Joe as the presenter of the BCTGA Awards 2025,” said BCTGA Chair Russell Parkins. “His passion for farming and ability to connect with a wide audience will bring real authenticity to the celebration of our sector.”
Last year’s winners included Evergreen Christmas Trees of Wales, which provided the 2024 Downing Street tree, and Santa Trees of Cornwall, which supplied the official wreath.
AWARD CATEGORIES
- Best Pine
- Best Norway Spruce
- Best Spruce - Other
- Best Nordmann Fir
- Best Fir – Other
- Best Container Grown – kindly sponsored by ICL
- Best Wreath - Natural
- Best Wreath – Decorated – kindly sponsored by The Fruity Farmer
- Celebrity Choice
- Photo of the Year – kindly sponsored by Citation
- Innovation Award – kindly sponsored by The Professional Sprayers People