There’s no doubt that winter can be a tough season for landscape gardeners. During the colder months, clients are more interested in staying inside than getting out and making the most of their outside space, which can lead to a drop in new business leads. To make things worse, gardening in winter is a much bigger job, with bad weather, freezing temperatures, and shorter days making even basic… Read more
Christmas tree business has come so Farr
Friday, August 23, 2019 - 14:54
Garden Trade Specialist editor Victor Galligan spoke to Farr North Christmas Trees’ owner John Junor about his farm and supplying the Christmas tree to 10 Downing Street…
John Junor has been in the Christmas tree business for over 30 years now, and from his 450 acre-farm in Farr, Inverness-shire, he is currently operating his business alongside his livestock farming role.
John says: “We have sheep and cattle here too, and the trees grow alongside them.”
With a plantation of 250,000 Norman Fir, Norway Spruce and Alaskan Pine trees, Farr North’s main buyers are wholesalers and John is keen to forge links with garden centres too.
Christmas trees ideal for garden centres
John said: “The trees are ideal for sale at garden centres. They range from 5ft to 8ft, with our most popular sizes for individuals being 5ft and 6ft.
“Nordman Fir trees are favoured for their attractive foliage, with needles that are blunt and do not drop readily, even when the tree dries out.” 
John sells 20,000 trees per year and they all come netted for easy transportation. John arranges delivery of the trees so you don’t have to, and says this growing season is going “good – really well in fact!” so he can expect a bumper crop.
Farr North even invite potential customers to visit the farm and inspect the Christmas trees themselves, which many do – but with a fantastic accolade under their belt this isn’t really necessary.
Last year, Farr North won the British Christmas Tree Grower’s Association competition to supply a Christmas tree to 10 Downing Street. This is the prize of all prizes for Christmas tree growers – the equivalent of a Christmas tree Oscar.
John, his family and colleagues travelled down to watch the lights switch-on and he couldn’t have been prouder. They didn’t bump into the former PM but she was rather busy at that time with another political matter!
So if you’re looking for Christmas trees which are fit for the scrutiny of Parliament, then look no further – John is your man!
See farrnorthchristmastrees.co.uk for more information.
Video: https://vimeo.com/277695795
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