Sale of Forest Service Christmas Trees

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Forest Service, an agency of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, today announced its arrangements for Christmas tree sales.

The Forest Service is continuing to harvest and sell Christmas trees this year. However, due to changes in consumer needs more trees will be supplied to retailers and wholesalers. Trees will continue to be available directly to the public at forests where Christmas tree harvesting is taking place.

A spokesperson from the Forest Service explained further, “The Forest Service intends to supply most of its regular size Christmas trees for the domestic market to wholesalers and retailers. This approach is being taken to match a clear trend in customer preference for buying real Christmas trees through local shops and supermarkets. There will still be the opportunity for customers to buy their trees directly at six of our forests where they are being harvested this year. Christmas trees will be available, at certain times, at Castlewellan Forest Park; Rostrevor Forest; Pubble Forest (Enniskillen); Pomeroy Forest; Castlederg Forest and Garvagh Forest.”

He added, “ Unfortunately there will be no Christmas trees for sale at Belvoir Park Forest. The courtyard at Belvoir Park was closed earlier this year because of safety concerns about the risk of subsidence and the uncertainty has been a factor in taking this approach now. Dates and times when trees can be purchased directly from other forests will be published in the local press and on the Forest Service website at www.forestserviceni.gov.uk/xmas."

Further information can be obtained by telephoning the following numbers

East District (028 4377 2240) - Castlewellan Forest Park; Rostrevor Forest

West District (028 6634 3032) - Pubble Forest (Enniskillen); Pomeroy Forest;

Castlederg Forest

North District (028 2955 6003) - Garvagh Forest

1. Locally grown and imported Christmas trees are increasingly available through retailers and supermarkets and as a result the demand for direct sales of Forest Service trees has considerably declined.

2. Sales last year of around 2,400 trees at Belvoir Park Forest, traditionally the Forest Service’s largest retail outlet for Christmas trees demonstrated a significant decline from over 8,000 trees sold in 1991.

3. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel 028 9052 4619.