Want to know where you can buy a real Christmas tree this year? Here's our round-up of places that aren't supermarkets or garden centres, and some tips about how to make sure they last.

1. Bailey Ridge Christmas Trees, Sherborne, 01963 210999

Bournemouth Echo:

At Bailey Ridge you can choose your own tree from those still growing on the plantation, or pick a pre-cut tree. They specialise in Norway Spruce and Nordman Fir, and have two reindeer for your children to meet. 

Open: Weekends from 10:00 am to 12:30pm & 2:00pm to 5:00pm, Thursdays and Fridays 3pm to 5pm and then Mon-Wed of Christmas week, 2pm to 5pm. 

2. Cranborne Manor Garden Centre, Wimborne, 01725 517289

The garden centre attached to the Cranborne Estate Manor Gardens is selling Christmas trees every day from November 28, with special Christmas events with Christmas trees, festive food and drink, roast chestnuts and carol singing, on December 3 and 10, and a Christmas farmers market on December 12. Or, if you want to choose your own tree, try... 

3. Cranborne Christmas Tree Farm, Daggons Road, Alderholt, Fordingbridge

The estate opens the plantation to let you choose your tree from the field on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from December 4.

4. Moors Valley Country ParkAshley Heath, 01425 470721

Moors Valley is one of the Forestry Comission's Christmas Tree Shops, which means you get sustainble trees grown in Britain, ranging from 4 to 8 feet. They will also have pot gro wn trees from 2 to 4 feet, holly wreaths, holly and mistletoe sprays and tree stands. Open: December 5 – 20, 10am until 4pm every day. There's also a Christmas craft market on Saturday December 5, and the Stick Man trail also starts then.

5. New Park Christmas Tree Sales, Brockenhurst, 0300 067 4601

Bournemouth Echo:

Another Forestry Commission site open from December 4 – 20, 10am until 4pm every day until they run out of trees. Mostly grown in the New Forest, you can get Nordman Fir, Norway Spruce or pot grown trees. New Park is also the site of the New Forest Christmas fair, on December 5 and 6, which includes 100 craft stalls, band, Santa and Longdown mobile farm.

6. Trinity Street Christmas Trees, Dorchester

Bournemouth Echo:

Trinity Street have been supplying trees in Dorset for 25 years. They import most of their trees from Scotland, and supply the Noble Fir and the Frasier Fir as well as the Nordman Fir and the Norway Spruce. They are also the place to go if you want a 10ft plus tree. They open at 9am on Saturday November 28.

7. Pines and Needles, 704 – 708 Christchurch Road, Boscombe

Pines and Needles was founded by teenagers Josh and Sam Lyle in 1995, when they loaded an old horsebox with Christmas trees from their family farm in Scotland. They now sell in London and the South, providing Nordman Fir and Norway Spruce trees - and their delivery drivers even wear kilt. Buy or reserve online at pinesandneedles.com or just turn up. Open from 8am every day until December 23.

What kind should I buy?

Bournemouth Echo:

Experts at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advise buyers to ask suppliers where the trees come from and to choose a locally-sourced and grown tree where possible.

Although it's traditional and highly scented, the Norway Spruce is better for outdoors, as inside it tends to drop its needles.

The Nordmann Fir is the most popular - four out of five trees sold in Britain are this type. It has glossy green soft needles and a good shape.

A Fraser Fir has pretty good needle-holding properties, a festive pine fragrance and the regular shape of a traditional Christmas tree, but it's narrower than the traditional shape (good for small houses) and has dense foliage which can make it harder to decorate.

The Noble Fir has a good smell, good needle retention and a tiered look.

How do I avoid needle drop?

The experts at Trinity Street say the key to avoiding needle drop is a tree that's been through a hard frost - which hardens the sap and stops the tree growing. If you subscribe to this theory, trees that have been brought south from Scotland are likely to last longer than those from our local forests.

When you bring your tree home, saw 2.5 centimetres off the bottom with a pruning saw - this cuts off the hardened sap and allows the tree to drink - place it in a stand with a well of water in the base and check the water levels daily.

Avoid placing a tree too close to a fire or radiator as it’ll cause excessive moisture loss and needle drop.