Need a Christmas Tree? We Have Forests Full of Them

By Michael Drake

The Forest Service hasstarted selling Christmas trees for households at prices ranging from [Pound]11 to [Pound]20 – while larger trees can be bought for between [Pound]36 to [Pound]860.Trees for cities, towns and villages are being transported from different forests toareas throughout Northern Ireland.”These trees require specific growing conditions in order to meet market requirements,” said a spokesman for the Forest Service which is an agency of the Department of Agriculture.”For the first time in a number of years we have been able to provide a tree suitable for Belfast City Hall.”It isa 35-year-old, 50-foot tall, Sitka spruce, which was grown in Killeter Forest, West Tyrone.”Christmas trees suitable for the domestic market are being soldto wholesalers and retailers as well as directly to the public at various forests across Northern Ireland.Members of the public who wish to buy their trees directly from a forest have an opportunity to do so, at certain times, from any one of six locations.Further information is obtainable on theForest Service website at www.forestserviceni.gov.uk/xmasThe forests involved are Castlewellan, Rostrevor, Pubble, (Enniskillen), Pomeroy, Castlederg and Garvagh.