We are heading into a busy few weeks for Ireland's Christmas tree growers as their annual harvest starts.
They will now begin working to cut down and distribute 550,000 trees.
350,000 of them will be sold to the domestic market - the remaining 200,000 will be exported to European markets, including the UK, Germany and France. The overall industry is said to be worth €21m to the Irish economy.
Dermot Page, Chairman of the Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association says that it can take up to 10 years before a Christmas tree is in its optimal condition and ready to be cut down.
"As growing conditions have been good this year, trees are displaying particularly good colour, so we’re expecting a very good crop for 2015," he told Agriland.ie.
The association says that it welcomes the Garda's launching of 'Operation Hurdle' - it hopes to prevent the theft of Christmas trees and to combat other rural crimes.
The group is running a #lovearealtree campaign to encourage people to buy real trees, and Irish, rather than fake trees and imports.
Its research found that one third of Irish consumers plan to purchase a real tree - and that the number one reason why people opt to keep things natural is the scent of a real tree - while the experience going to pick a tree and 'tradition' were two other important factors.
The most popular trees are the Nordmann Fir, and Noble Fir.
A recent survey found that many Irish households are buying more than one tree - this is a fact which perturbed Newstalk Breakfast presenter Ivan Yeats.
Meanwhile Dublin's I BELIEVE festival has brought a massive 50 foot tree to Dublin's Docklands.
