Celebrating 12 Trees of Christmas

Written on the 30th November 2023.

One of the things we share as a Juniper team is a love of nature. Being outdoors not only provides an opportunity to relax and reset but also reminds us of the sheer beauty of life around us. There is much to appreciate in the natural world, not least the grace and majesty of trees. From the rich pickings of fruit trees to the shelter of a mighty Oak, they are an intrinsic part of our lives, so often taken for granted. This festive season (and beyond) we want to throw a light on trees.

Throughout December we are celebrating 12 trees that have a special meaning for our friends, colleagues and the Juniper team. Each working day from 1 December to 18 December we will be revealing an additional tree below. We hope you enjoy the stories and that reading them will evoke your own memories and connections.

Tree One

The first tree in our ’12 Trees of Christmas’ is the Neem tree, nominated by Visalakshi Arunachalam. Visalakshi loves the way this tree reminds her of her childhood. “We have this tree in abundance in India and it has immense medicinal properties – be it the bark, leaves, stems, or seeds,” she explains. “I have a fond remembrance of this tree back from my home country, as I remember it being used so widely in all the households.

"We used to have this tree in every park that we used to play in. I really cherish the memories of me sitting under the Neem tree and playing in the shade with my childhood friends. For me it signifies love, abundance, health, and togetherness."

Tree Two

The second tree in our 12 Trees of Christmas is Juniper – the tree that lends its name to The Juniper Co. “I first fell in love with the Juniper tree when hiking the Grand Canyon in 1992,” explains Juniper’s Managing Director, Nicki Kavanagh.

“Its sheer resilience and the way it clung to the Navajo sandstone cliffs left a lasting impression on me. Several years later, when coming up with a name for the business, Juniper seemed the perfect choice. It fits well for a company that I wanted then and still want now: to be strong, innovative, and continue to grow, sometimes in the face of adversity.

“The Juniper tree has struggled in the UK over the last few years, but it is gradually becoming more plentiful again and it is a wonderful sight (and aroma) when you can walk amongst them.”

Tree Three

Tree number three in our ’12 Trees of Christmas’ is nominated by our sponsored event rider, Ginny Howe. Ginny has chosen the Apple tree, which has a special place in her heart.

“If I ever lose a horse, either through injury or old age, I always plant an apple tree for them at the bottom of the yard,” says Ginny. “A particularly special one is the apple tree for the horse that took me to the pinnacle of our sport, Badminton Horse Trials. The trees are a lovely way to remember them. They might not look particularly special at this time of year but come the spring, the blossom is beautiful, and the horses certainly appreciate the fruit that follows. Pretty much every horse loves an apple!”

Tree Four

The fourth tree in our '12 Trees of Christmas' is nominated by Dan Long. Dan is hugely passionate about trees and has more than 17 types in his garden! "I am very lucky to live in the countryside and have enough space to surround myself with trees," says Dan. "Over the years I have added to the original trees on the site by gathering seeds and cuttings from many beautiful places where I have worked and have over 160 trees across 17 types, which now surround my house.

"Some have memories of lovely venues, some have memories of different family homes; a sycamore from my mother's garden, a willow from my mother-in law's home and an ash which had self-seeded on my parents' grave in London.

"For the Juniper 12 Trees of Christmas, I have chosen a less common tree from my garden - the Wych Elm. It has great gnarly twisty branches and fissured bark, which provides colour all year round."

Tree Five

The fifth of our ‘12 Trees of Christmas’ is the Beech, nominated by Sanne Nieuwland, who is based in the Netherlands. Sanne says, “This beech tree brings me so much joy, especially during autumn. The leaves turn a lovely orangey-red, and with a clear blue sky and sunrays shining on the leaves, it creates a beautiful scenery to look out onto from my workspace at home.”

Tree Six

Tree number six in our '12 Trees of Christmas' is the Oak, nominated by Matthew Morris. "I have been fortunate to work amongst some of Britain's most stunning landscapes," says Matthew. "One of the most special has to be Wistman's Wood - an ancient oak woodland on Dartmoor. It is often referred to as one of the South West's last remaining examples of temperate rainforest. The oaks are draped in lichen and moss, and it is a place that is all at once; mysterious, magical and breathtakingly beautiful!"

Tree Seven

The seventh tree in our '12 Trees of Christmas' comes from Yoppy Tan, based in Singapore. Yoppy has chosen the Palm tree, which he loves seeing around the local landscape. "These elegant and beautiful trees symbolize resilience, victory, fertility, peace and tranquillity," he explains. "Additionally, they provide a gentle reminder to seek inner peace and serenity.".

Tree Eight

Tree number eight in our ’12 Trees of Christmas’ is Holly, nominated by Archie Harwood. “Whilst it comes into its own around Christmas, Holly is a striking tree at any time of year,” says Archie. “The rich green leaves bring a burst of colour to the hedgerows and the sharp spikes it cleverly uses to protect itself undoubtedly give it character! I love watching the wildlife tentatively make their move to get their share of the berries as we head into winter. Often associated with Ivy (as the carol goes) there are many tales and legends around holly, but the slightly worrying one is the thought that an abundance of berries means a harsh winter to come – and there are a lot of berries on the holly this year!”

Tree Nine

For the ninth tree in our ’12 Trees of Christmas’, we celebrate another stunning Beech tree, this time here in the UK. The tree is nominated by Lee Barber who explains its significance both to him and the local landscape: “I walk past this tree every day when I take my dog for a walk,” says Lee. “It’s autumn now so the leaves have started to change into a variety of colours such as green, yellow, orange and brown. I have chosen this tree for a couple reasons, not only because it’s home to a range of animals (I saw a woodpecker trying to make its home there once), but also because it is in an area of historical significance. The site, which sits in Oliver’s Battery, was once an Iron Age earthwork enclosure. A range of graves have been discovered there, including a Saxon warrior. Oliver Cromwell’s army used it as a camp when Winchester was besieged during the English Civil War, and more recently it was used as a horse artillery staging post during the First World War.”

Tree Ten

The tenth tree in our ’12 Trees of Christmas’ has been nominated by Leina Chong Pan. Leina explains its story: “This 100-year-old kapok tree, located in Saül (a village in central French Guiana), won the public prize in the “Tree of the Year 2015" competition, which is organised annually by the French National Forests Office and the magazine Terre Sauvage (www.arbredelannee.com).

“This tree is emblematic of my home country and is sacred to the population, as it is believed to bring protection against evil spirits. It is mentioned in many tales and myths from French Guiana, and some people would sit under it to listen to them. The kapok trees also represent who I am as a person, as I have African, Asian, and Latin American origins, where they grow.

“Finally, the Amazonian rainforest, which we call the “lungs of Earth”, is in grave danger and the tree in the pictures is located in the largest protected park in France and in the European Union (Guiana Amazonian Park).

Tree Eleven

Tree 11 in our '12 Trees of Christmas' is nominated by environmental, nature and landscape photographer, Charles Sainsbury-Plaice. "I have frequented the Sessile Oak, a majestic tree standing beneath Restormel Castle, for over two decades whiled engaged in diverse photography projects for the Dutchy of Cornwall," says Charles. "This 400-year-old oak likely sprouted in the turbulent times of the Civil War under King Charles I and now majestically graces the landscape, bearing witness to the passage of time under the reign of King Charles III."

Tree Twelve

The final tree in our '12 Trees of Christmas' will likely hold fond memories for many who celebrate Christmas - it certainly does for us. The Christmas tree is usually an evergreen, such as a spruce, pine or fir, and at this time of year great numbers will be heading into homes to be lovingly adorned with decorations such as lights, garlands and ornaments. A focal point for celebrations, the Christmas tree can be seen to bring people together and provides a sense of magic for children and adults alike.

Taking a more sustainable approach

Friends of The Juniper Co. will be aware that, for many years, we have lovingly put together and shared a desk calendar to bring a smile and a little bit of motivation throughout the year. Whilst the calendars would normally be in their final stages of preparation, we feel that this year is the right time to do something a little bit different. So rather than a printed calendar, in 2024 we will be sharing little pieces of monthly cheer on our website and social media channels instead. Look out for inspiration and insights from the team, starting in January.

We will be continuing our appreciation for trees into next year, beginning with a donation to the Woodland Trust here in the UK. We look forward to gifting a percentage of what we would have spent on printing and postage for the calendars and seeing how it can help protect our trees. We are also hoping to get hands-on with planting as a team, so watch this space!