Deck the tree, despite recession

German shoppers looking for the perfect Christmas tree may be disapppointed, as growers say a shortage in exporter Denmark means demand is outstripping supply.

Despite the recession, consumers say they are more concerned with finding the perfect tree than worrying about the price. Joanna Partridge reports

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Shopping for a Christmas tree - and decorating it - is a vital part of preparations for the festive season for many families.

But any Germans still hoping to buy a special big tree for their home may be disappointed.

The Nordmann fir is one of the most popular species.

Denmark is one of the biggest producers - exporting millions of trees each year to countries like Germany, France and Britain.

But Peter Uehre from a German Christmas tree school says a shortage in Denmark means there aren't enough big trees available to meet demand, a trend likely to continue for another few years:

SOUNDBITE: Peter Uehre, Test supervisor at Christmas tree nursery, saying (German):

"There are subsidies for agricultural land but there weren't any subsidies for land used to grow Christmas trees. So the stock was felled and cleared away, so people could get these subsidies, and at the moment there aren't enough young trees. So I think supply is quite tight for the bigger, up to two-metre high trees.

Tree producers in Denmark are planting more trees, but a Nordmann fir needs ten years to grow and Uehre expects the price to rise again in the meantime.

Here at this Christmas tree store in Berlin, the Nordmann fir is also the customers' favourite.

And despite the financial crisis, these shoppers are more concerned with finding the perfect tree than the price:

SOUNDBITE: No name given, Customer, saying (German):

"We bought the most suitable tree, which is cheaper than the one we really liked. But the one we really liked was too big."

SOUNDBITE: Mike Krause, Customer, saying (German):

"I think this would be the wrong place to save money. Maybe it's better not to buy so many tasty treats - plus your figure will thank you for it."

And even in the middle of a recession, it seems tradition prevails - and consumers are still prepared to spend their money on a tree to bring the festive season into their home.