A CHRISTMAS tree grower in York is helping pioneer the development of sustainably grown, climate resilient trees designed to withstand the increasingly unpredictable weather.
Oliver Combe the owner of York Christmas Trees in Wigginton, which has been operating for over 25 years, is part of a group of experts, including leading Scottish producers, UK growers and a Danish specialist working to create Christmas tree saplings capable of adapting to extremes such as drought, frost and flooding.
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This year Britain faced its driest spring since 1956, while frosts in Denmark disrupted growing conditions. In the face of these pressures, Oliver believes innovative growing remains the key to the industry’s resilience.
Oliver said: “Christmas tree production is still in its early stages of development compared with crops like wheat, but that means the potential for sustainable innovation is huge.
“If you compare Christmas tree production to wheat growing then we are still in the Iron Age in terms of development while the wheat growers are on generation 180. For us it’s really exciting because the potential gains are fantastic and this is not about gene engineering - it’s about natural selection and continuous improvement where we identify the healthiest trees that can thrive in a changing climate.”
By selecting saplings for traits such as needle retention, branching structure, bud density and timing of growth, Oliver and his fellow growers are improving both tree quality and environmental performance. The approach aims to reduce waste, limit chemical inputs, improve soil health and produce trees that are more resilient and much better quality.
“What we’re planting now is really exciting and we’re moving towards trees that are hardier, more efficient to grow and better for the environment,” says Oliver.
“It’s about building resilience into the whole system. We are already seeing a positive impact in our growing fields with a bumper harvest of freshly cut trees currently being delivered to our Christmas Barn.”
Prolonged rain in the UK last year led to waterlogged soils and damaged roots, while this year’s protracted drought slowed growth and increased stress on young trees.
“To grow Christmas trees sustainably, you’ve got to be committed,” added Oliver. “Anyone can plant them, but growing and selling them responsibly, with the future environment in mind, takes long-term planning and care.”
Oliver is confident his work with the UK/Danish growing group is helping to future-proof Christmas tree production in a way that supports biodiversity, soil health and the wider environment.
York Christmas Trees plant approximately 20,000 Christmas trees a year on the farm all located within 2 miles of the Christmas Tree barn shop which opened on Friday, November 21.
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