We have purchased the National Tree Company Bayberry Spruce Tree as an alternative
to the Balsam Hill tree which pretty much destroyed our Christmas with their
unanswered calls, emails and late order processing (over 2 weeks and
counting). Luckily the we have found the Alton Garden Centre on Amazon which was fairly local to us (15
miles). We went in, the staff was extremely helpful in guiding us (tree
and 1000 lights). Hayes Garden World also stock quite a number of excellent Artificial Christmas Trees, they do have a bigger variety than Alton.
The tree is not quite as realistic as the 7.5ft Weeping Spruce Feel-Real Artificial Christmas Tree which has much more tips and they go slight downwards, just like a real tree. However we opted for the Bayberry because it has the more Hollywood look. We only found Hayes Garden World at a later stage and I wish we found them earlier as they have trees with more tips and even full PE, they also provide free gifts and quick delivery times.
Make sure to check the tree properly as ours had some damage to the rings in the middle supporting the branches and had to be exchanged.
The tree has a mixture of PE with PVC and has 1867 tips. As the tree is split into three sections, each section has a different ratio (based on my opinion):
Section 1 (Top) 90% PE and 10% PVC,
Section 2 (Middle) 50% PE and 50%,
Section 3 (Bottom) 60%PE and 40% PVC.
Hays Garden World states that the National Tree Company trees are 40% PE and 60% PVC.
Balsam Hill states that their trees are 70-77% PE and 30-23% PVC.
Best-Artificial and Hays World offers trees which are 100% PE, however these trees may have bigger gaps in between branches. Hard to make a choice without seeing them.
Looking at some of the very few amateurish Balsam Hill reviews on-line (besides 99% of other blogs), I cannot see much of a difference to the Bayberry and I surely cannot see 70% PE branches on Balsam trees. This review seems to be more genuine (not that the other reviews are not, they just didn't have help from the product manufacturers and professional photographers taking the photos):
http://spillingcoffee.com/balsam-hill-artificial-christmas-tree-review/
This is a great review in regards to the different Artificial Christmas Trees and what to look for:
http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-artificial-christmas-tree
Getting back to the National Tree Bayberry tree, the set-up and look is exactly the same as Balsam, even the box it comes in and the information printed on the box is identical.
At the time these photos were taken we have added Section 1 and fluffed it up. I have done so by holding Section 1 on the floor between my legs. If I would have slotted it in I would have not been able to reach it unless I was standing on a step ladder. In the photos below you can see all sections connected, Section 2 and 3 are unfluffed.
Close up of Section 2 unfluffed, red tie is for us to know where Section 3 connects to Section 2. Easier to disassemble.
A video on how to assemble the tree can be seen here, thanks to Hays Garden World:
As
I wasted so much time doing my Xmas Tree research and watching the
Balsam Videos I followed their tree set-up advice. I started with the
top and worked my way down using protective gloves. I opened up each
branch, especially the PVC bits that are supposed to fill the middle, I
did so just like a peacock fluffs up its tail.
The tree is a 7.5 Ft tall tree, so 230CM however the Diameter is about 55 inches/140cm. I would also suggest getting a minimum of 22 meters light set (we went for the 1000 fairy lights) and position it at 23cm intervals in a spiral.
I would also say that you need about 60 baubles, or a minimum of 40 depending if you add some bows, ribbons etc. We used a 27cm Topper purchased from Amazon and it fitted perfectly in our 250cm Room height.
A video of the tree can be seen here:
Baubles were purchased from M&S. Topper and Ribbon from Amazon.
I love the new tree, it is a huge improvement from our first artificial tree.
The Bayberry might not be Balsam Hill Tree but I still think it looks amazing and at least we have a tree. I would also suggest going to the nationaltree.com website to register your product too. Use the information on the Box in which the tree came in.
For better photos and information on the other trees have a look at the nationaltreecompanyuk.co.uk.
https://www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk/blog/bayberry-spruce-artificial-christmas-tree
Alternative links to places selling Artificial Christmas Trees:
https://www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk/category/christmas/artificial-christmas-trees
http://www.alton-gardencentre.co.uk/artificial-christmas-trees/c352
http://www.best-artificial.com/product-category/christmas-trees/
https://www.pinesandneedles.com/christmas-trees
http://www.nationaltreecompanyuk.co.uk/
If you are in no hurry I would suggest to wait until the last minute 19th 20th Dec, I see the prices for these amazing trees fall each day the closer we get to Christmas. Some prices are even as low as %50 off which is crazy considering we paid twice as much for them.
The tree is not quite as realistic as the 7.5ft Weeping Spruce Feel-Real Artificial Christmas Tree which has much more tips and they go slight downwards, just like a real tree. However we opted for the Bayberry because it has the more Hollywood look. We only found Hayes Garden World at a later stage and I wish we found them earlier as they have trees with more tips and even full PE, they also provide free gifts and quick delivery times.
Make sure to check the tree properly as ours had some damage to the rings in the middle supporting the branches and had to be exchanged.
The tree has a mixture of PE with PVC and has 1867 tips. As the tree is split into three sections, each section has a different ratio (based on my opinion):
Section 1 (Top) 90% PE and 10% PVC,
Section 2 (Middle) 50% PE and 50%,
Section 3 (Bottom) 60%PE and 40% PVC.
Hays Garden World states that the National Tree Company trees are 40% PE and 60% PVC.
Balsam Hill states that their trees are 70-77% PE and 30-23% PVC.
Best-Artificial and Hays World offers trees which are 100% PE, however these trees may have bigger gaps in between branches. Hard to make a choice without seeing them.
Looking at some of the very few amateurish Balsam Hill reviews on-line (besides 99% of other blogs), I cannot see much of a difference to the Bayberry and I surely cannot see 70% PE branches on Balsam trees. This review seems to be more genuine (not that the other reviews are not, they just didn't have help from the product manufacturers and professional photographers taking the photos):
http://spillingcoffee.com/balsam-hill-artificial-christmas-tree-review/
This is a great review in regards to the different Artificial Christmas Trees and what to look for:
http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-artificial-christmas-tree
Getting back to the National Tree Bayberry tree, the set-up and look is exactly the same as Balsam, even the box it comes in and the information printed on the box is identical.
At the time these photos were taken we have added Section 1 and fluffed it up. I have done so by holding Section 1 on the floor between my legs. If I would have slotted it in I would have not been able to reach it unless I was standing on a step ladder. In the photos below you can see all sections connected, Section 2 and 3 are unfluffed.
Close up of Section 2 unfluffed, red tie is for us to know where Section 3 connects to Section 2. Easier to disassemble.
A video on how to assemble the tree can be seen here, thanks to Hays Garden World:
 |
| Distance from the floor approx 22cm. |
The tree is a 7.5 Ft tall tree, so 230CM however the Diameter is about 55 inches/140cm. I would also suggest getting a minimum of 22 meters light set (we went for the 1000 fairy lights) and position it at 23cm intervals in a spiral.
I would also say that you need about 60 baubles, or a minimum of 40 depending if you add some bows, ribbons etc. We used a 27cm Topper purchased from Amazon and it fitted perfectly in our 250cm Room height.
A video of the tree can be seen here:
Baubles were purchased from M&S. Topper and Ribbon from Amazon.
I love the new tree, it is a huge improvement from our first artificial tree.
The Bayberry might not be Balsam Hill Tree but I still think it looks amazing and at least we have a tree. I would also suggest going to the nationaltree.com website to register your product too. Use the information on the Box in which the tree came in.
For better photos and information on the other trees have a look at the nationaltreecompanyuk.co.uk.
https://www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk/blog/bayberry-spruce-artificial-christmas-tree
Alternative links to places selling Artificial Christmas Trees:
https://www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk/category/christmas/artificial-christmas-trees
http://www.alton-gardencentre.co.uk/artificial-christmas-trees/c352
http://www.best-artificial.com/product-category/christmas-trees/
https://www.pinesandneedles.com/christmas-trees
http://www.nationaltreecompanyuk.co.uk/
If you are in no hurry I would suggest to wait until the last minute 19th 20th Dec, I see the prices for these amazing trees fall each day the closer we get to Christmas. Some prices are even as low as %50 off which is crazy considering we paid twice as much for them.
Merry Christmas from Santa Paws!!
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