Tesco is Giving Away Free ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ Christmas Trees in 2025 – How the Wonky Tree Giveaway Works (and the Other Festive Freebies You Should Know About)

Shoppers across the UK have been racing to Tesco this first weekend of December after the supermarket giant confirmed it would give away hundreds of free real Christmas trees as part of its 2025 festive campaign. The catch? They’re deliberately “wonky” – slightly lopsided or gap‑toothed firs that might once have been written off as waste, now rebranded as “Perfectly Imperfect” and celebrated as symbols of a more realistic Christmas. ^[1]

The one‑day giveaway, held on Saturday 6 December 2025, has quickly become one of the season’s most talked‑about money‑saving and sustainability stories, with coverage spanning national newspapers, consumer sites and social media. ^[2]

What are Tesco’s “Perfectly Imperfect” Christmas trees?

Tesco’s free trees are exactly what you’d expect to see on a forest floor rather than in a glossy catalogue shot. They’re:

Real, cut Christmas trees
Perfectly healthy, but with quirks such as uneven branches, gaps, or a slight lean
The kind of trees that traditionally wouldn’t make it onto the shop floor

Local and national coverage explains that these trees were grown for retail but sidelined because they don’t fit the classic cone‑shaped ideal. Rather than allow them to go to waste, Tesco has reframed them as “Perfectly Imperfect” – leaning into the idea that Christmas doesn’t need to look flawless to feel special. ^[3]

This giveaway is part of Tesco’s broader 2025 Christmas campaign, “That’s what makes it Christmas”, which focuses on messy, chaotic, but relatable festive moments – wonky trees very much included. ^[4]

When and where were the free Christmas trees available?

According to Tesco’s campaign materials and multiple outlet reports, the free tree event was a one‑day promotion on Saturday 6 December 2025, starting from 10am, and limited to one tree per household on a first‑come, first‑served basis. ^[5]

Only 10 Tesco stores took part in the national giveaway: ^[6]

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

Shoppers in these locations could turn up from mid‑morning and queue for a tree; once they were gone, they were gone. Many consumer‑advice sites urged people to arrive early, anticipating that free real Christmas trees in the middle of a cost‑of‑living squeeze would disappear quickly. ^[7]

While the trees themselves were free, Tesco encouraged customers who could afford it to make a voluntary donation to its long‑standing charity partners FareShare and The Trussell Trust, which work to tackle hunger and food poverty in the UK. ^[8]

Why Tesco is putting imperfection at the heart of Christmas 2025

The free tree giveaway isn’t a random stunt – it’s an extension of a carefully planned brand strategy. In November, Tesco launched its 2025 Christmas campaign with a series of short ads rather than one big blockbuster spot. Each episode shows everyday families experiencing the “glorious chaos” of Christmas: burnt pigs in blankets, tangled fairy lights, awkward party games and chaotic school plays. ^[9]

Marketing and retail press note that this shift to episodic storytelling is designed to feel more like real life and less like a glossy fantasy. The “Perfectly Imperfect” trees extend that theme into something tangible you can drag through your front door and decorate with the kids. ^[10]

The data behind our obsession with a “perfect” Christmas

Tesco commissioned research to understand how people really feel about Christmas, and the results explain why the “imperfect” message is hitting home: ^[11]

24% of Britons say they usually put up their Christmas tree on the second weekend of December – exactly when the free tree giveaway took place.
More than two‑thirds (68%) admit the idea of decorating the tree feels more magical than the reality.
Around 40% expect to smash at least one bauble along the way.
26% of pet owners say their animal has pulled over the tree.
23% say they only realise the tree lights don’t work after they’ve finished decorating.
Crucially, 87% agree Christmas doesn’t need to be “perfect” to be special, and 74% say it’s the little imperfect moments that really make it feel like Christmas.

In other words: most of us recognise that the Instagram version of Christmas isn’t real. Tesco is betting that we’d rather laugh at the chaos than pretend it doesn’t exist.

From wonky carrots to wonky trees: Tesco’s anti‑waste strategy

The Christmas tree initiative also borrows heavily from Tesco’s established “Perfectly Imperfect” food range – the supermarket’s line of misshapen fruit and veg that might otherwise go to waste.

Tesco launched Perfectly Imperfect produce back in 2016, offering cheaper “wonky” potatoes, parsnips and other crops that didn’t meet strict cosmetic standards. ^[12]

By 2021, the retailer reported the scheme had saved around 50 million packs of fruit and vegetables that might otherwise have been discarded, representing tens of thousands of tonnes of food. ^[13]

Industry data suggests shoppers have embraced the concept: Kantar analysis found that ranges like Tesco’s Perfectly Imperfect and Morrisons’ Naturally Wonky saw sales rise by around 38% in one snapshot, as customers sought ways to save money while still buying fresh produce. ^[14]

Extending this logic to Christmas trees is a neat way to:

Prevent perfectly good trees from being wasted
Reduce the environmental footprint of festive retail
Offer genuine help to households feeling the pinch this winter

How the giveaway supports food charities

Tesco’s free tree event doubles as a fundraiser for two major UK charities:

FareShare, which redistributes surplus food from retailers and manufacturers to charities and community groups feeding vulnerable people. ^[15]
The Trussell Trust, which supports a nationwide network of food banks and campaigns to end the need for them. ^[16]

While there’s no obligation to donate, many articles and social posts about the event highlight the charitable angle, encouraging shoppers who can afford it to contribute when they pick up their tree. ^[17]

It’s an increasingly common model in UK retail: offer something attention‑grabbing and low‑ or zero‑cost to customers, then channel the goodwill (and footfall) into support for anti‑poverty and anti‑waste initiatives.

More festive freebies: Tesco Christmas Markets & Lidl’s free gift wrapping

The free tree giveaway is just one strand of a wider trend this December: supermarkets using free experiences to tempt cash‑strapped shoppers while reinforcing their value credentials.

Tesco Christmas Markets – free samples and goody bags

Alongside the tree promotion, Tesco has brought back its Christmas Markets, pop‑up events running outside 165 supermarkets across the UK throughout December. ^[18]

According to Tesco’s own site and student‑deal round‑ups, visitors can expect: ^[19]

Free food and drink samples – think party nibbles, festive desserts and seasonal drinks
Recipe inspiration and cooking demos
A goody bag worth around £20 when shoppers purchase two items from the market and show their receipt in‑store

For Tesco, the markets are a way to bring its “That’s what makes it Christmas” campaign into the real world – swapping TV storytelling for free mince pies in the car park – while nudging shoppers towards its own‑brand festive ranges.

Lidl’s free gift‑wrapping pop‑ups

Rival discounter Lidl is also leaning into festive feel‑good PR with its “Lidl Wrapped” campaign: city‑themed Christmas wrapping paper and free gift‑wrapping stations in 10 stores between 4–17 December 2025. ^[20]

Key points from the campaign details: ^[21]

Shoppers can have gifts wrapped for free in bespoke designs based on local shopping habits – from avocado prints to sushi or peas.
Packs of the paper are also sold for around 75p, with all proceeds donated to Neighbourly, Lidl’s surplus‑food redistribution partner.
The campaign doubles as a data‑driven snapshot of what each city buys most at Lidl, adding a playful “Spotify Wrapped” twist to supermarket marketing.

For bargain hunters, the headline is simple: free trees, free food samples, free gift‑wrapping – and, in many cases, a chance to support charities at the same time.

If you missed the free tree, can you still save?

By 7 December, the official Tesco tree giveaway day has passed, and most of the “Perfectly Imperfect” firs will already have found their new homes. But the underlying opportunities – to save money and reduce waste – stick around.

If you missed out, consider:

Checking for late‑season discounts on real trees closer to Christmas as retailers mark down remaining stock.
Choosing a slightly imperfect tree anyway – many farms and garden centres will discount trees with gaps or a tilt, especially after the first big rush.
Sharing or swapping decorations with friends, neighbours or local community groups instead of buying new.
Joining local “freebie” or reuse groups, where people often offer spare trees, lights or décor when they upgrade.

And if you did bag a Tesco wonky tree, remember: careful trimming, clever placement of lights, and a few strategically hung baubles can turn even the most chaotic specimen into something warm and joyful.

Budget‑friendly Christmas tips inspired by the coverage

Much of the reporting around Tesco’s initiatives has folded in broader cost‑of‑living advice, with consumer experts suggesting ways to keep Christmas magical without going into the red. ^[22]

Popular tips include:

Switch to Secret Santa for extended family or friendship groups instead of buying individual gifts for everyone.
Agree a realistic price cap on presents – and actually stick to it.
Plan ahead for 2026 by shopping sale sections in January for wrapping paper, cards and decorations.
Use outlet stores and discount supermarkets for stocking fillers, homeware and party food.
Stack loyalty points and app rewards across the big retailers to shave extra pounds off your festive shop.

Pair that kind of planning with freebies like Tesco’s Christmas Markets and Lidl’s gift‑wrapping, and the overall cost of the festive season starts to look more manageable.

Why this story matters beyond one weekend

On the surface, “free trees at Tesco” is a feel‑good festive headline. But under the tinsel, it touches on several deeper trends:

Food‑waste reduction: The move extends Tesco’s proven Perfectly Imperfect strategy from fruit and veg to seasonal products, reinforcing that “wonky” doesn’t mean “worthless”. ^[23]
Cost‑of‑living realities: Free essentials and low‑cost festive experiences have become powerful tools for retailers trying to retain loyalty as households tighten their belts. ^[24]
Charitable partnerships: Linking attention‑grabbing giveaways to donations for FareShare, The Trussell Trust and Neighbourly brings extra funding and awareness to organisations working at the sharp end of poverty and food insecurity. ^[25]
A shift in festive storytelling: Campaigns like “That’s what makes it Christmas” suggest brands are moving away from polished fantasy towards more honest, relatable depictions of how people actually celebrate. ^[26]