The Model Tree Shop

The Model Tree Shop: scale trees and scenery for modelmakers

The Model Tree Shop is a British retailer focused on scale model trees and landscaping materials. Its catalogue is aimed at model railway builders, wargamers, architectural modellers, diorama makers and dolls house collectors, and the company also presents its products as suitable for gifts. The range covers trees in numerous styles, colours and sizes, alongside scenery items such as static grass, ground cover, plants, flowers, hedges and shrubs.

The business describes itself as a UK specialist in this field and states that it was established in 2005, growing into one of the country's best-known specialist sources of model trees and landscaping products. In October 2024 the business was transferred from the Bird family to Model Railway Magic Ltd, based in York. The new operator states that it has continued to build on the range and knowledge developed previously while working on stock availability, the website and the breadth of scenery products on offer.

How the tree range is organised

The shop groups its trees by modelling scale and by physical height, reflecting its stated view that choosing a tree purely by railway scale can be misleading. A small tree may suit the foreground of an N gauge layout, while a considerably larger one could be appropriate in OO or HO. For that reason, measurements are given wherever possible and much of the range is arranged by height as well as by scale.

• N gauge products, including trees up to 55mm, 70–80mm, 100–105mm and 130mm and above, plus N gauge gift sets and N scale static grass.
• OO/HO scale products, with trees at 50/55mm, 70/80mm, 100/105mm, 120/140mm and 150mm and above, plus OO/HO gift sets and static grass.
• 7mm modelling ('O' gauge) products and 'T' gauge products.
• Large scale trees and trees larger than OO/HO scale.

Beyond the scale-based sections, the catalogue distinguishes tree types and materials: autumn trees, copper beech, banyan jungle trees, palm trees, fir trees, plastic trees, architectural concept trees, etched brass trees, string and wire trees, twisted wire trees and WWS tree kits. The etched brass line includes named pieces such as a single-trunk alder style tree (EB23), a twin-trunk lime tree (EB22), a single-trunk oak style tree (EB39) and a single-trunk deciduous tree (EB20). Heki trees also form a distinct part of the range.

Wargaming and landscaping materials

For wargaming, the shop organises products by figure scale: 10mm, 15mm, 20/25mm and 28/30mm figures. The landscaping side of the catalogue is broader still, covering cork products, hedge and ground cover, Heki landscaping items, Martin Welberg products, plants, flowers and shrubs, flower beds and borders, fruit and vegetables, grass strips and tufts, tubs and planters, scatters and static grass.

Static grass is sold in 1mm, 2mm, 4mm and 6mm fibre lengths, with named colour variants including Winter Meadow, Wild Meadow, Spring Meadow, Straw and Scorched Grass. Tasma Products appear in both 'N' scale and 'OO' scale versions, and WWS Scenics supplies another part of the scenery selection.

Products highlighted in the catalogue

Among the items featured on the site at the time of writing were the Heki 1962 40 Tree Mini Forest, a Large Copper Beech, a Large Silver Birch, Sweet Peas in N gauge, a Yucca, and a WWS Realistic Tree Making Kit in a Winter version. The shop also offers digital gift vouchers with values from £10 to £100. Several products were listed with reduced prices, including static grass in various colours and fibre lengths and the Large Copper Beech and Large Silver Birch trees.

Guidance for choosing the right tree

The company publishes a Scale Chart and Guide intended to help customers compare model sizes with their real-world equivalents, along with static grass instructions and a section on foliage colours. It also states that customers who are unsure which product suits their project are welcome to make contact. These resources sit alongside practical information pages covering shipping costs, terms and conditions and privacy.

Ownership and related activity

The Model Tree Shop is operated by Model Railway Magic Ltd, which also runs TrainTrax, a specialist KATO model railway retailer. The company's registered details list VAT registration GB 397 2064 71 and company number 12703527.