Pining for a real tree at Christmas!

THE cash tills were ringing out for Christmas tree growers over the festive season as sales surpassed €22million.

The figures exceeded all expectations and are due in large part to people turning away from the artificial alternative and instead following new trends.

Christy Kavanagh of the Irish Christmas Tree Growers (ICTG) highlighted that the public are ‘becoming so much more environment conscious and aware of the effects of climate change.

‘The move away from fake or plastic trees has really taken hold, with the public now even buying not only one large one, but two or more smaller real trees to place in kitchens or bedrooms.

‘Sales exceeded our expectations [in 2018] and it has been our best year ever. Sales of more than €22million have been reached, with the final amount still being calculated. There is so much more enthusiasm out there now for real trees and the various types available. Next year, we are planning to introduce coloured real trees, with colours such as snow white, blue, pink, lilac and psychedelic.

‘It’s a trend that has really caught on in the US so we are going to trial them next year. They will obviously be a little more expensive than the regular real tree, but we are expecting a demand for them.’

Mr Kavanagh also revealed that for the second year, Operation Hurdle has seen thefts of trees by criminal gangs fall dramatically. The initiative was launched by gardaí and growers after gangs were found to be snatching more than 2,000 festive trees annually, costing growers up to €100,000. A jobs boom has been credited with contributing to the fall-off. More than 400,000 trees were sold here last year, with at least 200,000 more exported to European markets.

Sales surpassed €22million