Midlands Xmas tree grower promises price freeze

Nov 26 2009 by Catherine Lillington, Birmingham Mail

A MIDLAND Christmas tree grower who has supplied trees to Buckingham Palace and Downing Street said his prices won’t shoot up with an expected national shortage.

Graham Gilbert, who owns Woods Christmas Tree Farm with his brother Geoff, said families could expect to pay 35 per cent more for a tree this year.

The poor exchange rate is making them more expensive to import and British growers are selling into Europe where they can make up to 30 per cent more than in past years.

“I’ve got plenty of trees here,” said Graham who began running the 600-acre farm, in Shirley, 35 years ago.

“I’m a grower, I’ve cut out all of the middle men and I will keep my prices the same as last year especially as there’s a recession on.”

The traditional British Christmas tree the Norway Spruce, is also expected to be in short supply, said the British Christmas Tree Growers’ Association. This will push up prices of all types of tree.

Secretary Roger Hays said: “There will be real Christmas trees around, but people will struggle to get a Nordmann Fir or a Norway Spruce this year.

“Anyone who particularly wants one of these firs should start searching for suppliers now. I’ve had dozens of calls from garden centres looking to stock them and there just aren’t as many of them about.

“Customers may also find the trees are more expensive as the shortage will give retailers the chance to increase prices.”

Mr Gilbert said this year’s crop of trees have been improved by a wet spring. He added: “Pick a tree up to feel the weight of it and if it is heavy, it is full of sap, so you know it is fresh.”