Growers vow to cut down Christmas tree profits

A MAD scramble for Christmas tree bargains could be a festive shopping list priority in Lincolnshire this winter.

Garden centres and shops are expected to be paying high prices if they want to stock their shelves with trees from the continent, including key suppliers Denmark, according to the British Christmas Tree Growers Association.

No problem: Although there is a shortage of Nordmann Fir Christmas Trees across Europe this is not a problem in Lincolnshire as local growers like Mr Rose have a plentiful supply.
Picture: Anna Draper Contact: William Rose 07831875294 Source: Aleisha Scott

This could lead to a price increase being passed onto shoppers who are looking to buy natural rather than artificial this Christmas.

But county suppliers and sellers have told the Target they are confident they can keep prices low, with 6ft Nordman fir trees expected to start at the £25 to £30 mark.

Tree growers association secretary Roger Hay said: "There is a problem in Europe at the moment.

"Denmark exports a lot of its Christmas trees to the rest of Europe. They grow the trees for Germany, Holland and other places and they haven't been exporting as many trees for the last few years so the prices have gone up.

"Anyone in Britain who buys in their trees from the continent will find they are extremely expensive. That's why it's worth growers in this country sending their trees over to Europe.

"We may see prices going up by five per cent or something - that's probably only a couple of pounds.

"It has been a very good growing year this year in Lincolnshire and for the last few years."