There is nothing like a natural Christmas tree to enjoy at Christmas time. The look, the scent and the very feel of a real tree are all part of the of the warm, homely atmosphere of this very special season.  Children especially enjoy being involved in choosing the family Christmas tree and often insist on having a small 'children's tree' which they like to decorate in their own particular way.  Best of all when you buy a real Christmas Tree, carefully grown and cultured in Ireland there is that extra special knowledge that you are supporting nature and the environment.

 RECYCLING

WE  ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RECYCLE THEIR CHRISTMAS TREES

FIND OUT MORE BY CONTACTING YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL

The Minister of State with special responsibility for Forestry, Shane McEntee TD, has urged families and households to ‘keep their money at home and support local forestry owners and farmers by buying home grown Christmas trees.’

Niamh and Aisling McManus, from Wilkinstown, County Meath helped Minister McEntee to select his family Christmas tree this year. 

Links:

www.kildarechristmastrees.com

www.emeraldgroup.ie

www.kavanaghchristmastrees.ie

www.kilranelagh.net

www.parkmorechristmastrees.ie

www.coford.ie

www.wicklowchristmastrees.com

www.mileburnchristmastreefarm.co.uk

www.nifarmforestry.com

 WHO WE ARE

The Irish Christmas tree Growers represents the major body of producers and suppliers of top grade Christmas Trees in Ireland

What We Do

Ireland’s temperate climate and soils are perfectly suited to the production of top quality Christmas trees. Our favourable mild winters and cool summers, together with high levels of rainfall and free draining soils enables Irish Christmas tree growers to produce some of the finest trees in Europe.

Ideal planting sites for Christmas trees should be well sheltered in relatively fertile and free draining soils. Christmas tree growing is an all year-round operation, involving specialist attention from the initial site preparation to the ongoing maintenance of the crop. Noble Fir (Abies Procera) is the most preferred tree because of its distinctive blue to green shading and its ability to retain its needles. The annual maintenance programme encompasses a broad range of husbandry activities from weed control, crop fertilisation, tree training and harvesting. On average it takes 7 – 10 years for a Christmas tree to grow to a minimum height of 2 metres.

We provide Christmas trees both for export throughout Europe and on the home market.  With over a hundred producers throughout the country we can guarantee an extensive variety of Firs - Nordmann, Noble, Korean.  We also have available Lodgepole Pine and large Norway Spruce (up to 50 ft) for outdoor and Corporate use.

It is estimated that less than 700,000 Nordmann and Noble Fir were planted each year in Ireland since 2004.

If growers achieve an 85% average yield then less than 600,000 trees will be available for sale annually from 2011 onwards.

With a domestic market of c500,000 and an existing export market of over 350,000 it would appear that there are insufficient trees being planted to meet future demand.

ICTG would encourage growers to share information on their future planting plans with the association to help ensure that adequate planting occurs over the coming years without creating a glut which would destabilise the market.

Plant availability from quality nurseries will be tight for at least the next three years and growers seeking to plant between now and 2010 would be advised to book their plant requirements without delay.

ICTG has learned that our major exporters of trees are likely to be diverting some of their domestic sales to cater for increased demand abroad.

This may result in shortages at home and ICTG anticipates receiving an increased volume of queries from local

retailers seeking a source of supply. It is important that you inform ICTG by early

September of the type, grade and sizes of tree you have available for sale so that the association can put business in your direction.

Longer Term Sales

There is also the likelihood that some exporters will be seeking to purchase trees for this year and on a longer term basis to meet export demand. You should contact ICTG if you have an interest in a longer term supply agreement with an exporter.