CHRISTMAS TREES 

Trade and retail sales of Noble Fir, Grand Fir, Lodgepole Pine and Norway Spruce Christmas trees of all grades. Also pot grown trees and large display trees.

NI Farm Forestry offer an extensive selection of freshly cut, locally grown Christmas trees from one of the 10 plantations we manage throughout Northern Ireland.  All tastes are catered for from small 'table top' trees to majestic trees fit for the largest of houses,  Open trees, bushy trees, tall slender trees, top notch and value for money trees.

Examples:  6-7ft Pine £15, 6ft 'Premiun' Noble Fir £25

We also supply logs, tree stands and decorative wreaths.

Easy parking, flood lit display, on the edge of Belfast.  1/2 Mile from Dundonald, on the right as you head towards Comber (you can't miss the signs). 

Open 2PM to 6PM Sun to Fri.  10AM to 8PM Sat, from the last Fri in Nov. 

farmforestry@hotmail.com or call 02890 410268

WOODLAND ESTABLISHMENT

Woodland creation: Ground preparation, mechanical and hand planting.

Supply of trees: All sizes, species and quantities available including container trees.

Maintenance: Spraying (machine and hand), mechanical weed control and shaping.

BACKGROUND:  NI Farm Forestry is a business born originally as a sideline to commercial Christmas tree production. Lessons derived from this specialist forestry activity having direct relevance to general woodland establishment. With Christmas tree production early and rapid establishment is of utmost importance, as it should be for all trees planted on a commercial basis. Due to the numbers of Christmas trees planted annually by NI Farm Forestry mechanisation is essential. Specialist planting machinery is utilised to ensure planting can be achieved accurately and without the damage to delicate transplant stock normally associated with hand planting. Mechanised planting has moved forward recently and the modern planting machine bears only a slight resemblance to the converted potato planters of bygone years. Modern mechanised planting ensures a more rapid rate of growth in the first few years after planting as the plants are placed into a deep furrow that allows for drainage and loosened earth around the developing roots.

SERVICES:  NI Farm Forestry offers a complete woodland establishment service from initial site visit and the production of a planting and management plan, through site preparation and planting to maintenance and formative pruning. Our aim is to work with landowners to ensure that the get the woodland they want that is environmentally appropriate and makes use of available grant aid in the most efficient way. Following an initial site visit and a discussion to determine the owners’ aspirations it is often amazing to see the variations in the planting prescriptions available. Following confirmation of clients’ needs and desires all grant application paperwork can be put together and sent to the Forest Service for approval. Any liaison can be undertaken on a client’s behalf and any site visits requested by the Forest Service can be accompanied.

SITE PREPARATION AND PLANTING:  With respect to preliminary site preparation and planting the following are some of the options available to the landowner:

Mechanical removal of existing vegetation by flailing.

Herbicide spraying to remove all competing vegetation.

Erection of temporary rabbit fencing.

Supply of transplant or plug stock.

Mechanical planting.

Hand planting.

 MAINTENANCE:  Following planting the new woodland needs to be managed to ensure successful establishment. Indeed this is a requisite of the Woodland Grant Scheme where 30% of the planting grant is withheld until 5 years after planting to ensure the minimum stocking level is achieved. To this end we will:

Inspect the new woodland annually for disease and pest damage.

Repair rabbit fencing if required.

Replace any significant losses to ensure an adequate stocking density.

Over-spray with herbicides if required.

Formatively prune broad-leaved trees to ensure better form in the final crop.

COST:  Obviously with so many variables exact costing is difficult; however, we aim to be able to establish woodland within the planting grant rate. Obviously if a client is able or wishes to undertake some or all of the site preparation and maintenance, the cost will be reduced. In broad terms site preparation starts at about £60 + VAT per acre, the supply of trees is approximately £320 + VAT per acre with the cost of planting being approximately £300 + VAT per acre. 5 years of maintenance would cost £130 + VAT per acre for broadleaf trees. To plant a tree individually, without the supply of the planting stock would be charged at a rate of 30p per tree depending on the number involved and the condition of the site.  Ultimately all planting costs are covered by the current government planting grants.

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT:  For our own sake, as well as that of our clients, we take safety and the environment seriously. Prior to any work being undertaken a written Risk Assessment is produced and all work planned to reduce any factor that could cause injury to others and us. All spraying operators are licensed and any spraying is conducted within current guidelines. Any use of herbicides is recorded and details kept on file. All forestry related activities are conducted to ‘best practice’ standards with an open mind to change and new techniques and technologies.

QUALITY:  NI Farm Forestry aims to provide a high quality and flexible service throughout any contract. Corners are not cut in order to save money if this is not in the best interests of achieving full establishment of the woodland yet a value for money service is provided without the need for the ‘gold plating’ that can sometimes be seen. We very definitely see a satisfied customer as our best form of advertising and aim always to have more than satisfied customers.

For further details contact:

Tony Johnston BSc (for)

NI Farm Forestry

5, Peartree Hill

Comber Road

Dundonald

07768 975017

02890 410268