farming diversification
Rocking Around the Christmas Tree in Buchlyvie By Janice Hopper
Festivities will certainly feel very different this year, but farmers who sell Christmas trees are still hoping for bumper sales. Duff Christmas Trees is based at Wester Auchentroig Farm near Aberfoyle. This family business boasts half a million Christmas trees in the ground, and sells to both the commercial and retail market. Euan Duff started out as beef, cattle and sheep farmer before diversifying into Christmas trees thirty years ago. With his first harvest he sold seven trees, but sales have certainly increased. “My grandfather was a forester who grew Christmas trees in Dunblane,’ says Euan. ‘He encouraged me to plant a few trees on the farm, and it’s simply grown since then, to the point we stopped livestock farming roughly ten years ago. It’s now a family business, with my sons Dougie and Sandy working alongside me. Now, out of 450 acres, approximately 300 acres are dedicated to trees. Each year we plant 80,000 trees, annually we harvest around 40,000 trees, with 38,000 heading for wholesale customers and two thousand sold to retail.” To offer customers variety the Duffs grow three types of tree. Euan started out planting the Norway Spruce, because that was the only tree considered to be a traditional Christmas tree thirty years ago, but times have changed. “Nowadays different trees suit different people’, says Euan. ‘There’s the popular Nordman Fir, known for its symmetrical wide shape, strong branches, and soft shiny needles. The Fraser Fir has rich green needles with a 42
fresh citrus sense. Its soft foliage is notably family friendly, and, as a narrower tree, it suits smaller homes and tall ceilings. Lastly, the original Norway Spruce is a classic because it smells so festive, but with prickly, low retention needles (especially indoors in the heat) it’s a popular Christmas tree for an outdoor setting. People decide which trees suit their home and surroundings best.” Wester Auchentroig’s USP allows retail customers to get festive down on the farm, selecting and sawing down their own tree. “The idea came about right at the beginning, when a family from East Kilbride asked if they could cut their own tree,’ says Euan. ‘The concept mushroomed from there. We usually provide
visitors with a saw, gloves, and carpet to kneel on. It’s a real family adventure, like something out of a Hollywood movie. It’s also lovely that this original family still return to Wester Auchentroig to buy their Christmas tree, kickstarting their festive season on our farm. What started out as a family of four now spans four generations and nineteen family members. It’s hugely rewarding to welcome them each year and meet any new arrivals.” As well as helping people create great memories, the Duffs add value by selling wreaths, tree stands, mistletoe and Christmas lights. Treats, such as homemade mince pies, jams and marmalade, are made by Euan’s wife Flick and are available to purchase. But for anyone
Euan Duff
Flick Duff
Dougie Duff
Sandy Duff
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considering a potential move into Christmas tree farming there’s lots to consider. ‘It’s worth appreciating that there’s a seven to eight year cycle between planting and harvesting a tree,’ explains Euan. ‘It’s not comparable to a crop such as potatoes or wheat, whereby you sow in Spring to harvest later that year. As growers, we also have to look out for and control aphids, you have to protect your trees from rust. And in terms of welcoming the public onto the farm, you need public liability insurance and it’s essential to carry out the appropriate risk assessments.” Naturally things will feel a little different this year due to Covid-19. The Duff team is setting up new pay points, asking customers to provide their own gloves, and arranging saw cleaning between each use. Clients who wish to keep to themselves can choose a pre-cut tree, opt for click and collect, or book a Christmas tree delivery straight to their door (in the FK8, G63 and G66 postal areas). The magic of Christmas will not be dampened. For the Duff family Christmas is the culmination of a year’s work. “Christmas is our rush period but we’re busy all year round,’ say Euan. ‘For every plant we harvest we plant two saplings, which we regularly weed, and prune by hand. Pruning takes up much of January, February and into March. We plant in April and May, controlling the amount of fertiliser provided to our trees to achieve the desired shade of festive green. In August and September it’s time to label and sort the trees, before we harvest,
