Big Christmas tree crop despite summer drought

While some Christmas tree growers in southern England have reported significant losses following this year's prolonged dry conditions plus some late frosts, the Hole Park Estate in Rolvenden, near Rye, is preparing for another strong season.

The estate’s plantations, established in the mid-1960s, have held up remarkably well with very few trees lost and exceptional quality in those being harvested from this week. The announcement follows recent national recognition for Hole Park's tree-growing expertise after the estate's Norway Spruce was named runner-up in its category of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) National Awards 2026, one of the industry's most prestigious competitions.

This year the region’s geography has played a key role in protecting the thousands of trees in the plantation, alongside the estate’s decades of experience in arboriculture. The High Weald's heavy clay soils, successfully retaining moisture from previous periods of rainfall so that the trees continued to thrive despite the extended drought. The region also avoided the worst of the late frosts. As a result, both quality and availability are set to be very good.

Hole Park owner Edward Barham, and the second generation in the family to manage the Christmas tree plantations, said: "There has been understandable concern about the impact of the Summer drought on this year’s Christmas tree crop, but we've been fortunate that our location in the Weald has worked very much in our favour.

"Our heavy clay soils held on to moisture remarkably well and the trees have responded brilliantly. Whilst we have lost a few saplings planted this year which had insufficiently well-established root systems, and have had to water young trees, we have seen very little drought-related damage to established trees and the overall quality of this year's crop is outstanding with excellent colour.

"To have one of our trees recognised in the national Christmas tree awards just a few weeks before the selling season begins us a wonderful endorsement of the care and attention that goes into our plantations throughout the year.

"We've been growing Christmas trees at Hole Park for more than 60 years and, honestly, this year's crop is among the very best I can remember."

Hole Park's Christmas tree plantations cover around 100 acres of the estate, with up to 20,000 young trees planted each year and around 16,000 harvested annually. Each tree requires years of careful management, including pruning, bud picking and regular monitoring to produce the balanced shape and dense foliage customers expect.

The estate is particularly well known for its Nordmann Fir trees, Britain's most popular Christmas tree variety, prized for their excellent needle retention. However, visitors will also find a range of more unusual trees grown on the estate, including Serbian Spruce, Douglas Fir and Lasiocarpa Fir. Their award-winning Norway Spruce offers a traditional festive appearance, distinctive scent and excellent shape, making it increasingly popular with customers looking to create a classic Christmas tree experience.

Many of Hole Park's trees are supplied to historic houses, stately homes, businesses and visitor attractions across the country, while thousands more find their way into homes throughout Sussex, Kent London and beyond.

Christmas tree sales will take place in the Estate Yard at Hole Park from Thursday November 19 until Sunday December20, opening from 10am to 4pm each day, with a wide range of sizes and varieties available. Visitors can also purchase sustainably produced estate firewood, decorative foliage and festive accessories at the same time.

For more information visit www.holepark.com.