Wicklow
grower, Christy Kavanagh, has been crowned the Christmas Tree Grower Supreme
Champion 2014 in the national Christmas tree growing competition. This is the
fifth time that Christy has received the accolade for his Nordmann Fir range in
the annual competition organized by the Christmas Tree Growers Association. As
an experienced and avid grower, he is enthusiastic about the benefits real
Christmas Trees bring to the celebrations, noting that the Nordmann Fir is the
most popular type of tree, accounting for 75% of
trees sold in Ireland.
The
Christmas tree harvest is currently underway due to excellent growing and
favourable harvesting conditions, according to the Irish Christmas Tree Growers.
Bord Bia estimates that approximately 500,000 trees will be harvested this year
by Irish growers, 300,000 for the home market and 200,000 for export, mainly to
the UK.
‘Love a Real Tree’
Campaign
This
Christmas, the Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association has launched a new
initiative, ‘Love a Real Tree’, to highlight the benefits of choosing a real
Christmas tree for your home. This
new campaign was developed to include a logo and website (www.lovearealtree.ie)
which highlight the benefits of a real tree versus and an artificial tree, in
particular that
real Irish Christmas trees are environmentally friendly as they can be recycled,
while the land used for growing them can be replanted or returned to traditional
agriculture.
Speaking about the
campaign, Christy Kavanagh said, “The look, the scent and the very feel of a
real tree are all part of the Christmas tradition! Growing the perfect tree
takes more than planting a tree and hoping for the best. It takes seven to ten
years to produce a 2 metre tall tree, and this means year round care for the
life of the tree by growers to produce the best tree possible. When you
buy a real Christmas tree, carefully grown and cultured locally, there is that
extra special knowledge that you are supporting nature and the
environment.”
The
Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association represents the major body of producers
and suppliers of top grade Christmas Trees in Ireland, with over 100 members
nationwide. Ireland has
developed a solid reputation for the production of high quality trees for both
the domestic and export Christmas tree market.
 |
| Christy Kavanagh of the Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association |
Christmas
Tree Growers Donate 500 trees to Jack & Jill
Foundation
The
Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association is donating 500 four foot Irish grown
Christmas trees to the children’s charity, Jack and Jill Foundation. These trees
will be used by the charity to stage a one day giveaway on Saturday,
6th December at two locations; Leopardstown Racecourse and Newbridge
Retail Park. The trees are available for an on the spot donation of €16 and are
ideal for apartments, offices or smaller rooms.
About the Jack
and Jill Children’s Foundation
The Jack &
Jill Children’s Foundation was founded by Jonathan Irwin and his wife Senator
Mary Ann O’Brien based on their own experience caring for their son Jack at home
until he passed away in December 1997. This experience became the blue print for
the Jack & Jill model of home nursing care which supports 300 children with
severe disabilities as a result of brain damage today and the Foundation has
supported over 1,800 families (county breakdown below) since 1997. The service
includes funding, home visits, advice, information, lobbying and bereavement
support and up to 64 hours of home nursing care per month at a cost of €1,024
per family. It also includes end of life care of up to 80 hours per month at a
cost of €1,280 with a clear focus of supporting parents who decide to take their
child home to die. Jack & Jill requires €2.7 million per annum to operate
this critical service and, with less than 20% coming from the State, the
Foundation depends on the generosity of the public to keep going and on
wonderful fundraisers like this, with every €16 raised funding 1 hour of home
nursing care
 |
| Christy Kavanagh with Jonathan Irwin from the Jack and Jill Foundation |
Your
Guide to Choosing a Real Christmas Tree
The
Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association's top Tips for Buying
your Christmas tree:
- Try not to buy your Christmas tree until you are ready to set it up. In many countries, such as France, the Christmas tree is not set up until Christmas Eve and taken down after January 6th.
- After you bring your Christmas tree home, keep it in a cool place like an unheated garage, porch or patio until you are ready to bring it indoors.
- Set it up in a cool area (less than 15 centigrade) and as far away as possible from sources of heat including fireplaces, radiators and vents. This will prolong the life of the tree for the holiday season.
- Place it in a "water stand". Most Christmas tree sellers have these available. The stand has a wide base and bolts for giving the tree stability, and a basin for water to keep your tree fresh.
- Just before standing your tree in the water stand, you should make a fresh saw-cut, straight across the stem, at least 3 cm above the original cut. This fresh cut allows the tree to absorb water easily.
- Check out your local County Council website for Christmas Tree Recycling locations near you.
Irish Christmas
Tree Facts
- Production is mainly concentrated in counties Wexford, Carlow, Wicklow, Tipperary and Cork where soils and climate combine to produce high yields.
- Approximately 8 million trees of all ages are currently growing on circa. 1, 500 hectares
- There are approximately 10 significant producers and 70 to 80 smaller growers.
- The farm gate value of current domestic and export sales is estimated at €10 million, plus retail values of €25 million
- The three most popular varieties of Christmas tree are the Nordmann Fir (accounting for 75% of trees sold in Ireland), the Noble Fir (accounting for 15% of trees sold in Ireland) and the Lodgepole Pine.
Why
buy a real Christmas Tree?
- Locally grown Christmas trees are really fresh due to the reduced travel stress on them.
- There is a tremendous variety and a large range of different size trees available to meet your particular needs.
- Once cared for properly, non-shedding trees, such as the Nordmann Fir, Noble Fir and Lodgepole Pine, will not lose their needles.
- Each tree is cultured as an individual tree and produced to the highest quality standards from the time they are planted right through to delivery.
- Your real Christmas tree is a natural resource and therefore can be recycled. This is in contrast to artificial trees, which are usually made of metal and plastic materials and use oils and minerals in their manufacture. An artificial tree may last up to six years in your home but takes centuries to break down in landfill sites.
- The forest environment is protected by the fact that Christmas trees are continually being planted to replace those trees being harvested.
- As well as adding to the beauty of our landscape, growing Christmas trees produces large amounts of oxygen and removes the harmful carbon dioxide or “greenhouse gas” from our atmosphere. Real trees also provide natural habitats for forest animals and birds.
All the funds raised go to the charity with each €16 donation accounting for one hour of home nursing care for one Jack and Jill baby. Visit www.jackandjill.ie for more information.
For
more tips on buying and caring for your real Christmas tree, visit www.lovearealtree.ie.
Zack
