Not just for Christmas, but way to make cash grow
Land agent Bell Ingram believes the festive season provides the perfect platform to illustrate the lucrative benefits of setting up a Christmas tree enterprise in Scotland.
The Christmas tree industry is worth almost £1 billion a year in Europe but a large proportion of those sold in Scotland are sourced from elsewhere.
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Hide AdHowever, industry sources say Scotland is perfectly placed to grow the variety of species that are harvested for festive celebrations – in particular the growing demand for larger trees required for shopping and civic centres across the country.
Geoff Brown, associate director at Bell Ingram’s Ayr Office, who is a specialist in forestry management, said: “Landowners who wish to diversify and utilise woodlands and land to their full potential should most definitely consider setting up a Christmas tree enterprise.
“Based on a three hectare site including initial start up and operating costs, we have estimated that an average return over nine years would be in the region of £105,000.”
“The forestry sector in general is often seen as a safe investment in uncertain times.
“It is low risk and largely not susceptible to short term fluctuations.”