Not just for Christmas, but way to make cash grow

INVESTORS and landowners are being urged to consider an opportunity to see their money grow on trees.

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.

However, 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.”