#195 The Journey of the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree

Every December in London a magnificent Christmas tree is unveiled in Trafalgar Square. It is an annual gift from the people of Norway to the people of Britain that began 75 years ago. The origins of this tradition lie in the darkest days of the Second World War, and a British naval hero who undertook a mission for Norway’s government-in-exile. Today, the crossing of the tree from Norway to Britain is a more peaceful affair than the story that started it all. But growing such an enormous tree, and transporting it to London, is not without challenges.  In this episode, we tell both of those stories… Guest Eivind Johan Birkeland, Forest Manager – Municipality of Oslo, Agency for the Urban Environment Resources For a video showing the unveiling of the first Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree, click here For more information on the daring escape of the Norwegian Royal Family, click here Listeners interested in the exploits of WW2 torpedo boats should read ‘Dog Boats of War’ by Leonard C Reynolds, click hereThe post #195 The Journey of the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree first appeared on Engineering Matters.