Hello and welcome As November draws to a close, this is in fact our last newsletter before Christmas so although this may be a little early for a few of you, this month's newsletter has a slightly festive slant. The biggest event in truffles this past month, at least in our view, was the First European Conference on the "European" Truffle Tuber aestivum/uncinatum. We'd like to say a big hello and thank you to all of you who attended and especially to the organizers. Thanks to the interest and attendees, this important meeting will now be an annual event. The end of November and beginning of December sees National Tree Week in several countries. Also this week is the Tree O'Clock event, a world record attempt to plant as many trees globally in 1 hour as possible (see below) and what better tree to plant than a truffle-tree? For those of you stuck for Christmas presents, we can help with truffle tree gifts, as explained below. Of course, the French season for Perigord truffles (Tuber melanosporum) officially opens this week (1st of December), so we can look forward to a truffley Christmas, with Perigord, summer and white truffles all in season! For now, enjoy the updates have a great Christmas and we'll be writing again in the New Year.

BBC Breathing Spacing's and National Tree Week
Mark this Saturday, the 5th of December in your diaries as it's the BBC-backed Tree O'Clock attempt. It's a global world record attempt to plant as many trees as possible in one hour. You can do your bit by registering on the BBC website see: tiny.cc/BBNJk and pledging to plant a tree. This is a truly global event, so not matter where you're based you can get involved! Even if you don't have a garden, there are communal spaces where you can plant a tree and support is available from a range of sources. You may also be lucky enough to be offered free trees from local authorities and, in keeping with the spirit of the event, we have a number of (non-truffle) trees available free to schools and educational centres. For further information and to request free trees for your school, please get in contact: Shop@PlantationSystems.com or +44(0)1433 659 167

Christmas deliveries and gift ideas
I know, I know, I know, it's the November issue and we're talking about Christmas already� Well, it is the last newsletter before the big day and so hopefully this could help a few of you with Christmas present ideas. Our truffle-trees for gifts are supplied with full growing instructions, a gift certificate and are neatly packaged ready to be wrapped and put under the Christmas tree. As the truffle-trees are in their dormant state, they can happily remain in their card boxes and wrapped as a present until the New Year, if kept in a cool and dark space. You can order anytime through our website http://www.mycorrhizalsystems.com/shop. After ordering, simply send us an email with your order number and preferred delivery date and we'll dispatch the trees to your preference. Simple! Anything else we can do, such as dispatching to an alternative address or including a card or note, please just ask. Please note, the final order day for guaranteed Christmas delivery is the 18th of December. All the best and Happy Christmas from the Tree Shop. For further information, please contact: Shop@PlantationSystems.com or +44(0)1433 659 167

Dual cropping, hazelnuts and truffles
We're often asked, "can I grow hazel nuts and truffles together"? And so, we thought it was time that we updated you on such possibilities. Our primary hazel type is a variety known as Kentish Cob. They produce large sweet-tasting nuts, so they should produce a yield. However, the management methods for ideal nut production and ideal truffle production are quite different, specifically in terms of soil pH and nutrition. Whilst your truffle trees can produce hazel nuts and truffles, the nut harvest will be larger if they are managed solely for nut production - so there does seem to be some level of trade off. This is a fascinating subject and we currently have two trials running, one with several nut varieties all with the same Turkish-hazel rootstock (inoculated with Tuber aestivum/uncinatum) and a second with several varieties all grafted onto a Kentish cob rootstock (inoculated with Tuber melanosporum). We'll be following both experiments very closely to help advise on the potentials of dual cropping and to be able to offer specific advice and expertise. For more information, please just get in contact: Shop@PlantationSystems.com or +44(0)1433 659 167

Tuber magnatum auction update
This month saw the 11th Global Alba Truffle Auction held in the small town of Grinzane Cavour near Alba, Italy. Private-equity investor Joseph Bae, of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Hong Kong, set his sights on an exquisite Alba Truffle. This particular truffle weighed in at 750gms (1lb 10oz) and was eventually bought by Mr Bae for a princely sum of 1 million Hong Kong Dollars, or £90,000. In all, the truffle auction raised over £212,121 and the total proceeds went to support three children's charities -- the Changing Young Lives Foundation and Mother's Choice in Hong Kong and the village of Tempera, Italy, which will use the funds to rebuild a children's nursery destroyed in a recent earthquake. Mr Bae was keeping the fate of his prize close to his chest, but he and five of his fellow business men did dine out that night on a special eight course truffle based meal, prepared by Italian chef, Massimo Camia. For further information on this or any aspect of truffles (no matter what country you are in), please get in contact: Shop@PlantationSystems.com or +44(0)1433 659 167