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Town seeks another wonky Christmas tree

John Devine/BBC Sarah Lemmon, 50, in the March Town Council office with a notice board behind her with various posters on. She has long blonde hair, with a dark round collared jumper and is smiling, holding a greetings card from last year that shows a wonky tree next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, with the caption "Seasons Greetings" at the top.John Devine/BBC
Sarah Lemmon says she was told by the supplier that they could not guarantee a wonky tree, but will "do their best" to supply one

A town council has requested another wonky Christmas tree after last year's leaning tree became a world-wide phenomenon.

The 9m (30ft) festive tree with a bent trunk was delivered and erected in March, Cambridgeshire, in 2023 and was initially deemed "embarrassing" by residents.

Media coverage came from across the globe as the tree became an emblem of "being different and being accepted".

Elveden Instant Hedging & Christmas Trees, which supplied the tree, said it could "not make any promises" over supplying a leaning tree for a second year.

John Devine/BBC The market square in March, Cambridgeshire, various shops, cafes, bars behind a 9m (30ft) Christmas tree standing on a pavement, near the road with a pronounced lean to the right.John Devine/BBC
March Town Council says people will have an opportunity to buy a segment of the leaning tree trunk at the town's Christmas fair

Last year the wonky Christmas tree grabbed international attention and "put March on the map", according to locals.

It was likened to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and mocked when first erected, but brought an unexpected boost to the Fenland town.

March Town Council clerk Sarah Lemmon, 50, said she even had friends in Australia and New Zealand messaging her after they heard about the tree, and others put up wonky trees in solidarity.

"The fairy tale had a happy ending - the moral being, to accept things that are not quite perfect," she said.

"We can all be a bit wonky in one way or another... overwhelmingly people were very happy, many have asked for a quirky tree this year.

"I have had about 50 inquiries in the last month asking if we are going to get a wonky tree again."

Elveden Instant Hedging & Christmas Trees said: "The tree itself wasn’t wonky as such, it had a bulbous part to the skirt that once it was installed into the socket, it meant the tree appeared to be leaning.

"A wonky tree is not usually in our remit, and is certainly quite hard to find. March have requested if we could supply a ‘wonky’ tree this year, but as most spruce trees grow quite straight, we cannot make any promises."

A major 18-month redevelopment of the town, which is currently in its final stages, means the new tree will move from Market Square to the newly pedestrianised pavement on Broad Street, between the War Memorial and the Coronation Fountain.

The town's Christmas tree lights switch-on will take place on 29 November.

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