Christmas is coming and that can only mean one thing – the NI Farm Forestry Christmas Tree Shop will be open for business! But there is a lot more to the well-known Co. Down enterprise than meets the eye as owner Tony Johnston explains.

While the successful family-run operation can claim to be the largest grower and retailer of Christmas trees in Northern Ireland, this only accounts for about 40 per cent of its overall business. Forestry contracting is bigger, accounting for 55 per cent, with firewood supplies making up the remaining five per cent.

“The Christmas tree season is quite short,” Tony points out.

“It only lasts for a few weeks. First we lift the potted trees before cutting the first trade orders around the third week of November. We cut our first tree on November 15 last year for use at a seasonal launch event for a well-known supermarket. You have to have something else to sustain you for the rest of the year and in our case it’s forestry contracting. We also sell firewood in the winter months, but again that’s a seasonal thing.”

Established in Dundonald 15 years ago, NI Farm Forestry has eight different plantations comprising circa 77,000 Christmas trees. The trees, which are mostly Nordman fir, take 10 years to grow to a height of seven-eight feet. This festive season, Tony and his team will harvest between 6,000 and 7,000 trees.

“We grow nearly all our own trees, meaning quality is always assured. We have trees to suit every budget and requirement. They are only cut as they are required throughout the festive season, guaranteeing the freshest Christmas trees in Belfast,” explains Tony, who runs the business along with his wife Penny (their teenage children Edward and Felicity also help out).

“Our plantations and shop are only a stone’s throw from the city, so our location couldn’t be much better. People can drive into our yard and pick out the tree they want themselves. There’s ample car parking and it’s a fun time of the year which means there is a fantastic buzz about the place. Our customers appreciate the fact that we only cut trees as we need them and have a helpful and happy staff.”

The Christmas Tree Shop is open for business from Monday, November 28, offering a variety of trees in a wide range of sizes, from small trees suitable for a flat or apartment to large trees for large homes and open spaces. The varieties include Noble Fir, Nordmann Fir, Grand Fir, Douglas Fir, Norway Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, Fraser Fir and Serbian Spruce.

All Christmas trees are grown in accordance with guidelines established by both the British and the Irish Christmas Tree Growers’ Associations, of which NI Farm Forestry are members.  Tony is also the current chairman for the Irish Growers association.  These ensure that the appropriate use of plant protection products and fertilisers, and that the trees produced, are of a consistently high standard.

Additionally, tree stands, plain and decorated handmade wreaths and table centres are also available. The wreaths are of the highest quality and can be decorated to your specification in order to match the theme or colour of your own home decorations.

At just £35, a standard seven foot Christmas tree represents excellent value for money.

“The same tree could cost £65 in a garden centre,” Tony says. “Our trees always sell out because they are sensibly priced and of a superior quality. You won’t get the business if you over-price your products.”

NI Farm Forestry also supplies firewood in bulk ‘builders’ bags or small net bags. A forklift is used to load the bulk bags onto your trailer or into the back of your van. The logs are seasoned by air drying, and can vary in moisture content depending on the species and when they were split. Some of the logs have a moisture content of just 17 per cent, which is exceptionally dry for non-kiln dried wood. The firewood is generally sourced from the sustainable woodland and plantations the company manages for its 100-strong client base, who operate both in the private and public sector.

As one of the largest forestry establishment companies in Northern Ireland, NI Farm Forestry offers a complete service in relation to all your forestry and woodland needs, from assisting with grant applications to preparation of ground, sourcing and planting of trees and ongoing management.

Specialising in woodland creation, machine / mechanised planting is employed whenever possible, NI Farm Forestry’s contracting service was originally a sideline to its commercial Christmas tree production. Lessons derived from this specialist forestry activity has direct relevance to general woodland establishment. With Christmas tree production, early and rapid establishment is of utmost importance, as it should be for all trees planted on a commercial basis. Due to the number of Christmas trees planted annually by NI Farm Forestry, mechanisation was therefore essential.

Specialist planting machinery is utilised to ensure planting can be achieved accurately and without the damage to delicate transplant stock normally associated with hand planting. Mechanised, machine planting has moved forward in recent times and the modern planting machine bears only a slight resemblance to the converted potato planters of bygone years. Machine planting ensures a more rapid rate of growth in the first few years as the plants are placed into a deep furrow that allows for drainage and loosened earth around the developing roots.

Committed to Health & Safety and protecting the environment, NI Farm Forestry’s aim is to work with landowners to ensure that they get the woodland they want that is environmentally appropriate and makes use of available grant aid in the most efficient way. Following an initial site visit and a discussion to determine the owners’ aspirations, the variations in the planting prescriptions available is often remarked upon. Following confirmation of clients’ needs and desires, all grant application paperwork can be put together and sent to the Forest Service for approval. Any liaison can be undertaken on a client’s behalf and any site visits requested by the Forest Service can be accompanied.

A qualified forester with a background in beef farming, Tony would encourage any farmer, especially those with small acreage, to give forestry a go. He is a member of Confor, whose aim is to support sustainable forestry and wood-using businesses through political engagement, market promotion and supporting its members’ competitiveness. Indeed, he is the forestry industry’s representative within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Plant Health and the Rural Development Programme.

Northern Ireland Farm Forestry
5 Peartree Hill,
Comber Road,
Dundonald,
Belfast,
Co. Down.

Telephone: 07768 975017 / 02890 410268

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.nifarmforestry.com

Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 4 No 8, October 2016

Northern Ireland Farm Forestry