Ireland’s Best Real Christmas Tree for 2015 was revealed recently as Christmas tree growers from across the country gathered to launch the #lovearealtree campaign in Co. Wicklow.
It was a clean sweep for James O’ Toole from Fairwood Christmas Trees in Carnew, County Wicklow whose entries won 'Best Nordmann Fir' and 'Best Noble Fir'. His Nordmann Fir, at 2.25 metres tall, also won the the title of ‘Ireland’s Best Real Christmas Tree for 2015’.
The Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association (ICTGA) hosted its biggest Field Day of the year, and launched a consumer campaign to encourage more families to buy a real Irish-grown tree this Christmas.
The association also held its first-ever Christmas Tree Throwing competition, as more than 30 Christmas tree growers attended the Field Day on Kavanagh’s Christmas Tree plantation in Co. Wicklow.
Martin Kelleher from Kildare Christmas Trees in Naas won the inaugural Christmas Tree Throwing competition, reaching a distance of twenty-two feet.
The Field Day offered Growers on the island of Ireland and abroad, the opportunity to share and discuss industry best practice. Speaking at the #lovearealtree campaign launch, Dermot Page, Chairman of the Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association said: “Growing a real Irish Christmas tree is a long-term investment, with up to 10 years of pruning, shaping and weeding before a high-quality tree can be harvested.”
He added: “By buying a real tree, grown in Ireland, people are supporting Irish business and employment and it is excellent value for money as well as environmentally sustainable. This year, we’re launching the ‘Love A Real Tree’ label, which will be attached to the tree and available in retailers across the country.”
There are around 3,000 acres of Christmas trees planted in Ireland, with an estimated 300,000 trees harvested and sold every year. The most popular species of Christmas tree are Nordmann Fir and Noble Fir. The value to the Irish economy is estimated to be €15million, including exports of €6million. Irish grown Christmas trees are exported to the UK, Holland, Belgium, France and Germany.
It was a clean sweep for James O’ Toole from Fairwood Christmas Trees in Carnew, County Wicklow whose entries won 'Best Nordmann Fir' and 'Best Noble Fir'. His Nordmann Fir, at 2.25 metres tall, also won the the title of ‘Ireland’s Best Real Christmas Tree for 2015’.
The Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association (ICTGA) hosted its biggest Field Day of the year, and launched a consumer campaign to encourage more families to buy a real Irish-grown tree this Christmas.
The association also held its first-ever Christmas Tree Throwing competition, as more than 30 Christmas tree growers attended the Field Day on Kavanagh’s Christmas Tree plantation in Co. Wicklow.
Martin Kelleher from Kildare Christmas Trees in Naas won the inaugural Christmas Tree Throwing competition, reaching a distance of twenty-two feet.
The Field Day offered Growers on the island of Ireland and abroad, the opportunity to share and discuss industry best practice. Speaking at the #lovearealtree campaign launch, Dermot Page, Chairman of the Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association said: “Growing a real Irish Christmas tree is a long-term investment, with up to 10 years of pruning, shaping and weeding before a high-quality tree can be harvested.”
He added: “By buying a real tree, grown in Ireland, people are supporting Irish business and employment and it is excellent value for money as well as environmentally sustainable. This year, we’re launching the ‘Love A Real Tree’ label, which will be attached to the tree and available in retailers across the country.”
There are around 3,000 acres of Christmas trees planted in Ireland, with an estimated 300,000 trees harvested and sold every year. The most popular species of Christmas tree are Nordmann Fir and Noble Fir. The value to the Irish economy is estimated to be €15million, including exports of €6million. Irish grown Christmas trees are exported to the UK, Holland, Belgium, France and Germany.
- Advice on how to care for a real Irish-grown Christmas tree is available through www.lovearealtree.ie and through Facebook/Lovearealtree #lovearealtree