Could this be the end of real Christmas trees? Farmers fear future as extreme weather wipes out 20,000 trees

Real Christmas trees could become harder to grow and more expensive to buy as farmers warn that increasingly extreme weather is threatening the future of the industry.

One farming couple has been left facing losses of up to £80,000 after a combination of late frosts, scorching temperatures and prolonged drought destroyed thousands of young trees and stunted the growth of older ones.

Ruth and James Wallis, who run Sutton Hall Farm near Lewes in East Sussex, say every single one of the 20,000 Christmas trees they planted two years ago has died.

The couple, who invested £30,000 in the saplings alone, fear the damage will have consequences for their business for years to come, with Christmas trees taking around a decade to reach maturity.

They are not the only growers facing problems, with Christmas tree farms across the UK reporting difficulties following increasingly unpredictable weather.

James, 53, estimated their overall losses at between £60,000 and £80,000, describing the sight of their dying trees as painful after two years of investment and care.

He said: "We spent a lot of money putting those trees in the ground and nurturing them for two years. It is going to make for a very gappy harvest going forward."

The couple started growing Christmas trees in 2017 after previously concentrating mainly on dairy farming. While last year's drought caused some issues with the colour of their trees, this season has been especially devastating.

A late frost in May killed fresh growth on older trees, meaning many can no longer be sold as premium-grade Christmas trees. Instead, they will have to be sold as standard grade, costing the farm around £15 per tree in lost income.

The situation worsened when heatwaves and severe drought followed throughout the summer. The couple tried applying fertiliser to their young trees to help them, but without rain they were unable to absorb it properly.

Their harvest this Christmas is consequently expected to be 30 per cent lower than anticipated.

So, this has led NationalWorld to question if real Christmas trees eventually disappear from British homes?

There are currently around 300 Christmas tree growers across the UK, supplying an estimated six to eight million trees every year. Most take between eight and 12 years to grow, meaning poor conditions today can create shortages many Christmases down the line, according to government guidance.

Forest Research also warns that hotter, drier summers and more frequent droughts could increase water stress, reduce tree growth and cause trees to die, particularly in southern England.

But, this does not mean real Christmas trees are about to disappear, but growers may increasingly need to change how and where they cultivate them.

Ruth and James are already exploring water storage options to protect future crops, although Ruth believes more government support is needed to help farmers invest in these measures.

She said: "The problem with Christmas trees is that they take about ten years to grow, so the problem will be about ten years down the line when those trees should be maturing and won't be."

Despite the setback, the couple are determined to continue growing Christmas trees, although they admit the experience has made them rethink how they protect their crops. Ruth added: "We believe that water is too precious a resource to put on what is a luxury item rather than a food source."