PROFILE SALLE FARMS CO >>
mer slows down growth, whereas a wet spring makes it much hard- er. Norway Spruce, on the other hand, are much easier to grow.
Making the grade “We simply shear them into a Christmas tree shape and cut the leader to a proportionate length. But they don’t hold such high val- ue as the Nordmann Fir, which commands double the price be- cause of the extra work, and be- cause it can be harder to achieve a high percentage of top grade trees.”
Estate forester Martin Hope and the Nuneaton-based Cade- by Tree Trust, which maintains plantations across the UK, are responsible for the cultural hus- bandry, fertiliser and spray ap- plications throughout the year. Grading begins in September: any earlier and the trees won’t yet be showing their full greenness, and any later, orders are start- ing to come in, and Tom needs to know how many trees he has for sale. Each tree is assessed and tagged, with a range of colours to show different heights, the most
useful for making wreaths and other decorations. Four teams work together to get the trees out to customers: one team cuts and drags trees to the edge of the plantation where they are sorted into their various siz- es and netted; another loads and ropes the trees on to double-size pallets; a third delivers them to wholesale customers, mostly within a 50-60 mile radius, and the fourth looks after the estate’s Christmas tree shop. “People enjoy coming out to
In recent years the Nordmann Fir has become the most popular Christmas tree.
popular being fi ve to six foot. A tag fi xed to the leader de-
notes a premium tree, while one on a side branch means it’s a standard grade. The third grade, value, is for trees of less than ideal shape, but which nevertheless are
choose their tree each year. We have eight to 10 staff in the shop and they offer a high level of ser- vice, helping customers select their tree and netting it for them. We also sell pot-grown trees sup- plied by Cadeby Tree Trust, which are growing in popularity as they can be reused each year.” Also on sale in the shop are
wreaths, mistletoe, tree stands and a range of food products made in small business units that make up the Salle Food Hub on the estate: cold pressed rapeseed oils, salad dressings, sauces and granola from Crush Foods, and
chutneys from Candi. This year there is also tea from the Norfolk Tea Company, as well as cookies and popcorn. Each year between 10,000 and
15,000 two year-old bare-rooted trees are planted to replace those cut down, usually after eight to 10 years’ growth.
“It used to be said that if you used a plastic tree for 20 years it was more environmentally friendly than buying a cut tree each year, but we’ve created a wildlife habitat with thousands of trees that take in carbon diox- ide and release oxygen, and we’re always replanting.”
BUSINESS FACTS
• Norfolk farming estate • 37ha Christmas tree plantation
• Seasonal shop • Country Trust host
CONTACT
W:
sallefarms.co.uk/ christmas-trees/
&TRACK
www.envirotyre.com
Collection & environmental recycling of agri, car, truck tyres and tracks
Collection throughout Central & Eastern England. PLEASE CALL 0345 331 2747 48 ANGLIA FARMER • DECEMBER 2019
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