UK Christmas tree growers optimistic

UK Christmas tree growers are optimistic of bumper sales despite severe weather initially hampering efforts to get Christmas trees out of the forest.

“The last 10 days have been fairly difficult for growers in the north of Scotland and the east of Britain generally in terms of getting the trees out,” Roger Hay, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, told TTJ.

“But it has recovered a lot, sales are good and prices are strong.”

Mr Hay said British-grown tree sales were increasing and the average price of the most popular tree – the Nordman fir – was £35-40 (6ft), with prices rising about 15% in the last two to three years.

“Prices are probably the same in real terms compared to 10 years ago, because there was a drop in prices about five to eight years ago,” he added.

He estimated total Christmas tree sales this season would be about 8.2 million trees; lower than last year because of fewer numbers of imported trees. Trees from Denmark and other traditional exporter nations were staying on mainland Europe, with eastern Europe a particularly popular destination.

“There has been demand for the Norway spruce which we do not have a lot of, so we will probably see more of these being planted.”