Tesco to give away free ‘wonky’ Christmas trees for one day only

A free Christmas tree from Tesco? Here’s what’s going on

Tesco is giving away free Christmas trees for one day only, and for anyone watching every penny right now, this could be a real help.

The trees aren’t broken or half-dead. They’re just a bit wonky.

Maybe a branch sticks out more on one side, or the tree leans a bit. Once the baubles go on, they look just as Christmassy as the pricey ones.

The giveaway is happening on Saturday 6 December from 10am in selected stores. It’s first-come, first-served, and it’s one tree per household.

They’re free, but Tesco is asking people to donate something to FareShare or the Trussell Trust if they can. Even a couple of pounds helps someone else put food on the table this winter.

Read next: 20 ways to give to charity without donating money

Why Tesco is doing it

Tesco’s Christmas message this year is simple: real Christmas isn’t perfect. And they’re right.

Most of us don’t live in a magazine. The dog knocks things over. Kids argue about who hangs which bauble. Someone loses the end of the lights and gives up untangling them. There is a lot of pressure that a lot of us don’t really talk about.

Tesco’s own research shows:

• a quarter of people put their tree up in the second weekend of December
• two thirds say decorating sounds lovely in their head, but the reality is far from calm
• four in ten expect to smash a bauble
• a lot of pets take the tree down at least once a year
• most of us only discover the lights don’t work when they’re already on the tree

And the big one: 87% of people say Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to be special.

So Tesco is giving these slightly lopsided trees a second life because, honestly, most of our trees are wonky by the end of the week anyway.

Read next: Can’t afford Christmas? Here’s what to do…

Where the free trees will be

Tesco is offering the trees in ten stores:

• Colney Hatch Extra
• Borehamwood Extra
• Hammersmith
• Southport Extra
• Goole Superstore
• Glossop Superstore
• Bristol Brislington Extra
• Cardiff Extra
• Dundee Riverside Extra
• Glasgow Maryhill Extra

Doors open for the giveaway from 10am. When they’re gone, they’re gone.

Why this matters for families right now

The cost of a real Christmas tree has crept up year after year. For some families, it’s the sort of spend that pushes the budget too far. A free one takes that pressure away.

It means:

• You still get a real tree without handing over £20 to £40 you don’t have.
• You can put that money towards the food shop, heating, or a present for the kids.
• Your home still feels festive without the financial hit.

It’s a simple idea, but it will make someone’s Christmas a lot easier.

A small win at the right time

Lots of people decorate early, but plenty wait until the second week of December, which is why the timing works so well. If you’ve held off to see what you can afford, this could be the boost you need.

Tesco’s perfectly imperfect trees are a good reminder that Christmas doesn’t have to look flawless. Most of us are making do, saving where we can and focusing on the bits that matter.

And the truth is, once the lights are on and the kids start hanging their handmade decorations, nobody notices if the tree is leaning a bit.

Final thoughts

If you’re near one of the ten stores, it’s well worth popping down on Saturday morning. A free real tree is a proper win, especially this year when every penny counts.

A slightly crooked tree still smells the same, still lights up the room, and still gives the kids that same little burst of excitement. And that’s the stuff that makes the season feel like Christmas.