19th December- Real or artificial tree?

I like the smell and I like the thought but I don't like the needles everywhere for the next 6 months. Also, there's no denying that the 'green' credentials of a fake tree are sparse but what are the credentials of having a lot of poor soil inducing trees grown and then harvested year upon year? We've had our fake tree for 21 years. It's served us well. I think when we retire it, I may opt for a non-traditional twig/branch type item to hang things on. But it's a tough old thing and will outlast us all. (It hasn't ever been and probably won't ever be as well coordinated as the tree in the picture though!)