UK households are being warned of a Christmas tree shortage after a record-breaking summer of hot weather, with growers reporting significant losses of newly planted trees and concerns for supplies in the years ahead.
Summer 2026 brought extremely hot conditions across the UK and Europe, with droughts declared and health warnings issued on several occasions. Tree growers across Britain say the high temperatures and dry conditions affected growth, with many newly planted trees not surviving their first year. Trees normally stay in the ground for around eight years before being cut down, but there are already concerns for this year's supply and for future years.
Growers report 'tough year' with losses
Oliver Combe, 57, who has worked at York Christmas Trees for 40 years, described it as a "tough year" for growers. He told The Telegraph: "For the first time ever, we have had losses in what we planted last year." Combe has switched to autumn planting to enable strong root growth, but this year's extreme heat and drought meant around 2,000 of his 15,000 newly planted trees were lost.
Additionally, a lack of rainfall meant fertiliser could not be properly absorbed by older trees, so they suffered as well. He explained: "This year, we have had no proper rain since Easter." Combe said he is now looking to irrigate his crops in anticipation of more dry summers ahead.
Record temperatures and climate impact
The Met Office said the summer of 2026 was the hottest on record, with temperatures exceeding 38C in some parts of the country. Figures for June, July and August show the average mean temperature, including day and overnight temperatures, was 16.5C, the warmest on record in a dataset going back to 1884. The Met Office said the heat experienced this summer was made 130 times more likely by human-made climate change.
The highest temperature recorded this summer was 38.2C at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire on August 13, the UK's fifth-hottest day on record in terms of maximum temperature. It did not beat the all-time high of 40.3C measured at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, in July 2022.
Farmers face financial consequences
James Wallis, who runs Sutton Hall Farm near Lewes, East Sussex, told the BBC that his business, which he runs with his wife Ruth, has suffered severely. The couple lost 20,000 trees they planted two years ago, with Wallis describing the financial consequences as "significant".
Russell Parkins, chairman of the British Christmas Tree Association, said: "There are enough trees, but it's a challenge to keep them in good condition."
