Welcome to the Christie-Elite Catalogue for 2007-8



Thank you once again for the business you placed with us last season.

At the time of writing we are without a support scheme for those wishing to plant new woodlands or hedging on farms in Scotland. Whilst we must all accept the need for change, the complete lack of continuity in the delivery of policy in our industry makes forward planning a nightmare - especially for nurseries where the three year production lead time for most of our crops comfortably exceeds the life span of many of the incentive schemes such as SFGS 1 and various locational premia.

On a brighter note, timber prices have improved - due both to a tightening of supply and an increase in global demand. Improved returns to woodland owners in the UK are long overdue and it is to be hoped this trend will continue, thereby encouraging harvesting operations and consequently, restocking and perhaps - just maybe - more new planting of commercial forests.

The sooner that commercial forestry can move away from any reliance upon grant schemes, the better, but native woodland creation and hedge planting will require continued support. The fact remains that with forest cover of only 11.6%, the UK is one of the least afforested countries in Europe (Germany has 30.7%; France has 27.9%).
A balanced programme of woodland expansion will make a sustainable contribution to the environmental and economic well-being of the country.

The indifferent weather during much of 2007 has disrupted some nursery operations, particularly our 'summer' transplanting programme, but it has had a minimal impact upon the crop we have available for sale this season and I am happy to report that we have a better range of provenances than ever before following last year's excellent seed harvest. So we are poised and await your orders!

With best wishes from all at Christie Elite for a successful 2007/8 season.

Yours sincerely

Derek McDonald
MD


Christie Elite Nurseries Ltd. Forres, Moray, IV36 3TW, Scotland

A Member of the Marigot Group
The Natural Network

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