Foresters fraught as snowfall hits tree shortfall

But the recent snowfall has caused an unexpected problem that would have Ebeneezer Scrooge cackling in his grave.

It has emerged that the sub-zero temperatures have plunged the UK into its worst Christmas tree shortage for decades, with many suppliers, from North Yorkshire to the top of Scotland, unable to cut their trees down and cart them off to be sold.

The problem has been confounded by a general nationwide shortage as exchange rate fluctuations mean many foreign producers are now shunning the UK in favour of the more lucrative European market.

Now there are real fears that many families will not be able to get proper trees in time for Christmas.

Dave Grewer, who works for Yorkshire Moors Christmas Trees in Pickering, which has been hit by several inches of snow in the past few days, said: "I've been in this business for 30 years and we do occasionally get a dusting of snow at the end of November, but nothing like this.

"We have still got a number of trees to be cut down which is going to be made difficult as we have four inches of snow up here.

"But the worst thing is we have to load the trees on to lorries to be sent across the country.

"These lorries can't get to us to pick them up.

"We will have to try and get snow ploughs in.

"I predict that many people will be left with no option but to buy plastic trees this year."

This year's shortage has already seen an unprecedented rise in demand.

And as the wholesale price of trees has risen, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association has been forced to distribute letters to sellers asking them to keep it in the festive spirit and not make families pay more than they should for a tree usually priced at around 40 for a six footer.

Kirstie Combe, 41, who runs York Christmas Trees on the outskirts of York and grows more than 100,000 trees a year, said: "Luckily we grow our own trees so we have not put our prices up but I have heard the wholesale price has gone up dramatically.

"Certainly there is a huge demand this year.

"We opened on this weekend and we sell freshly cut good quality trees to customers.

"But the ice and snow makes it difficult for customers to reach us.

"I have never known weather as bad as this at the end of November, and this is the key time to get Christmas trees out to people so it's the worst possible time for us.

"We desperately need it to clear up in the next few days as this is the biggest week in the year for us, but the forecast doesn't look good at all.

"Also, demand for natural, eco-friendly Christmas trees has risen so much in the last few years supply simply cannot meet demand.

"Not enough trees were planted six or seven years ago."

Mrs Combe's husband Oliver, also 41, a tree expert who helps with the business, said: "I have been involved with Christmas tree growing for 23 years and there has been absolutely unprecedented demand for trees this year.

"Supplies have been getting tighter for the last three years but this is the worst it has been.

"As fast as we can grow the trees at the moment people are coming and buying them."

Roger Hay, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, confirmed that supplies of the Nordmann Fir - the country's most popular tree which is famous for not dropping needles easily – have been badly hit by the wintry weather.

He said: "These terrible blizzard conditions are not helping us get trees out to people.

"We have many trees growing in the north of Scotland and that area has been particularly badly affected.

"Getting trees out to people is going to be very difficult.

"I sent the letter out to sellers telling them not to be greedy and that when there is a shortage of trees it is not an excuse to put prices up – we don't do things that way in this business.

"If people are getting their trees direct from the growers then they will hopefully not notice a difference in price this year.

"But if you go to a florist or garden centre or somebody selling them on a street corner, you could be paying several pounds more."

It is estimated eight years ago up to 1m trees were imported into Britain from Denmark as well as thousands shipped in from Ireland.

This year only 200,000 trees are believed to have been imported from Denmark as growers are targeting more profitable markets in Europe.