Christmas tree farm battles drought to save crop

The Christmas tree industry is hoping for a wetter autumn, said one grower

A Christmas tree grower in Worcestershire is going the extra mile to ensure this year's crop is ready for the holiday season despite the drought conditions.

Walter Beard runs Leigh Sinton Farm near Malvern, which primarily grows Christmas trees.

This summer, he has been spraying the plants with foliar feed during the night to "keep them going" through the dry conditions.

A drought was declared in Worcestershire last month following England's driest start to the year since 1976.

Mr Beard told BBC Hereford & Worcester he was "optimistic" that a wetter autumn would get moisture back into the trees before Christmas.

"What we're hoping for in the Christmas tree industry is a damp September, October, November, where the tree roots can take up the moisture and fill the tree with moisture, so when it is cut it retains its needles in a good condition to go into the house," he said.

He said the farm previously invested in irrigation after the drought of 1976, keeping the crop "in reasonably good condition".

This year, England has had its driest spring in more than a century, followed by its warmest June on record.

The parched ground can have serious impacts on nature and farming, sparking concerns about food supply.

Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association, said in some areas supplies of brassicas such as cauliflowers and cabbages were tight.

"Other root crops, carrots and onions have been kept going by the use of irrigation, but there are serious concerns about water supplies if the lack of rain continues," he said.

"At this stage, we are confident that the crops will be there, but the weather events of the last three months highlight the increasing uncertainty around our food supplies."