Real Christmas trees are back in favour with environmentally aware customers

GARDA efforts to tackle the theft of Christmas trees in the lead-up to the festive season appear to be working.

There were no reported theft of trees this Christmas in Wicklow – unlike other years where thefts have left producers out of pocket to the tune of thousands. In 2015, it was estimated that between 1,000 and 2,000 Christmas trees were stolen from the Wicklow area, with growers losing out on between €50,000 and €100,000.

A special seasonal operation, Operation Hurdle, was established by the Gardaí eight years ago to prevent the theft of Christmas trees in the Wicklow and Dublin Garda Divisions, and growers believe it has been a firm success.

Christy Kavanagh runs a Christmas Tree Farm in Newtownmountkennedy and is the current Chairman of the Christmas Tree Growers Association.

He said: ‘I haven’t been made aware of any recent incidents of Christmas tree thefts in Wicklow. The Gardaí are more aware and Operation Hurdle has been a huge success. The Gardaí have taken a very hands-on approach to the problem and it is working very well. Garda cars have been quite prominent around the hills and the back-roads of the county and that is having a positive impact. In the past, growers have been hit badly, but things have definitely improved. Thefts can hit growers very hard as it takes four years in a nursery and ten years in the field before the tree is ready. The economy has also picked up which has also had a positive impact.’

Mr Kavanagh also highlighted that there is a notable move away from fake or plastic Christmas trees by consumers in favour of the real thing.

‘People are becoming more conscious of the environment. We had a lot of people visiting our farm shop prior to Christmas looking to buy a real tree. In some cases it was the first real tree they ever bought. Plastic trees just aren’t considered very “sexy” anymore. I mean, you wouldn’t buy your wife or girlfriend a bunch of plastic flowers. If you buy a tree from China then it has to be transported, using crude oil. You are also supporting the Chinese economy rather than your own local economy. People are also more aware of the fact that trees take in harmful carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. A few years ago plastic trees were very popular, but there is a definite swing back in favour of real Christmas trees,’ said Mr Kavanagh.