Extreme weather hits Christmas tree harvest

Christmas tree growers in Sussex have said they fear their harvests will be affected by a year of extreme weather.

Frost, drought and prolonged periods of hot weather have killed young saplings and stunted growth, and farmers have had to find ways to protect and supplement stock.

James Wallis, who runs Sutton Hall Farm near Lewes with his wife Ruth, said the impact on their business had been severe.

"About 20,000 trees we planted two years ago died in a single block," he said.

"The drought has made it harder for trees to absorb nutrients, and some have turned yellow," said Wallis.

"However, we can treat that with natural amino acids and nutrients."

He said the farm had been unable to water its trees because it does not hold an irrigation licence.

"We let the trees get on with it, and for the smaller ones we left weed growth to help protect them from the heat," he said.

Ruth Wallis said it had been a "very difficult" year for growers, with frost in May killing new shoots and drought slowing growth.

"The financial consequences are significant," she said.

She said the farm had planted about 250,000 trees over the last 10 years.

However, this year's harvest is expected to be about 30% less that last year due to frost damage.

Ruth Wallis described the losses as "particularly frustrating" saying Christmas trees take about 10 years to reach a saleable size.

"You invest a huge amount of time and effort into producing a quality tree, so it's very disappointing," she added.

Clive Collins, founder and owner of Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm near Battle, said growing and maintaining Christmas trees was "tricky".

"You've got to protect them from frost, sun scorch and pests," he said. "They also need to be carefully graded before they're sold."

Collins said this year's harvest had been "pretty good", although almost 10% of the trees would fail to meet the required standard.

"To make up for the trees we can't sell, I'll be sourcing additional stock from a plantation in Scotland," he said.

Russell Parkins, chair of the British Christmas Tree Association, said the industry had had a "tough year" due to the hot summer and dry weather.

"There are enough trees, but it's a challenge to keep them in good condition," he said.

"We've applied more fertiliser into the tree so there is more moisture in the ground.

"As the trees shut down for winter, it can still maintain the nutrients."

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