Soggy weather prompts bumper crop of Christmas trees

Disappointing summer weather has produced one of the best Christmas tree crops for decades, but the festive cheer doesn't extend to holly and mistletoe which are in short supply.

Christmas trees thrived under the conditions because the wet weather helped to make their foliage greener and more glossy. Photo: GETTY

By Lucy Kinder

3:26PM GMT 13 Nov 2012

 

The UK suffered its wettest summer in 100 years with flooding and torrential rain ruining many crops.

But Christmas trees thrived under the conditions because the wet weather helped to make their foliage greener and more glossy.

Harry Brightwell, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA), said: "It has been a challenging year for farmers and a lot of fruit and vegetables have suffered, but Christmas trees appear to be one of the few crops that have benefited.

"Growers across the country are reporting their trees are extra lush and full of moisture which helps them emit that lovely Christmas fragrance which only comes from a fresh tree.

"Many are saying it is their best crop in the last 10 years – but they are now hoping for some drier weather so they can get their tractors into the fields to harvest them."

British Christmas tree farmers will also benefit from a severe frost that hit southern Europe in the spring, which damaged the new buds of the Christmas trees.

This could reduce the amount of Christmas trees being imported from Europe but will increase the number of British Christmas trees sold.
But those hoping for romance under the mistletoe at Christmas may be disappointed as poor weather has damaged supplies of holly and mistletoe.
Bitter winds and driving rain meant bees sheltered in their hives and there were few other insects to pollinate blossom on holly bushes and other berry-bearing shrubs.
The few plants which did produce berries this autumn have already been stripped bare by huge flocks of blackbirds, thrushes, redwings and fieldfares.
Prices of the berries are expected to rise substantially as a result.
An RSPB spokesman said: "We're only in mid-November and already many berry-producing shrubs and trees have been completely stripped.
"Wild birds are now being forced to come into our gardens and parks in ever-increasing numbers to find food.
"Because it's been such a poor crop of berries and other food such as beech tree mast, they will rely on our garden feeders more than ever this winter."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/9675342/Soggy-weather-prompts-bumper-crop-of-Christmas-trees.html