Forestry nursery Christies of Fochabers, managed 130 million young trees across five sites and employed 32 staff. Reporting increased cash flow pressures, Graham Smith and Michelle Elliot of FRP Advisory have been appointed as administrators.

The announcement comes just three months after the business sold their garden centre in Fochabers – now under the ownership of Simpsons Garden Centre. Established by Thomas Christie in 1820 and run by the family for four generations, the sale of the garden centre enabled Ronald and Christine Christie to retire. The acquisition took the number of garden centres operated by Simpsons in the north of Scotland to three, with other sites near Inverness and Peterhead.

In 2024, the company chairman, Ronald Christie warned that cuts to Scottish Government woodland funding would devastate the industry. Christies grows trees based on government policy and funding, and plan three years ahead. New seedlings were being grown for new woodlands as part of the Scottish government’s expanding forestry targets, to tackle climate change.

With the budget slashed, Christie explains they may have to destroy millions of young trees unless the Scottish Government reinstates the funding – which pays for tree planting by farmers and landowners, working with forestry companies.

Christies invested significantly in the nursery’s infrastructure in recent years, including the development of grading facilities, cold store refrigeration and modern agricultural equipment. Having planned for expansion the company found its ambitions severely restrained. “We wouldn’t have signed off that kind of expenditure if we thought funding for planting would be cut,” added Christie.

Graham Smith of FRP added: “Christies is a well-established and respected name in the sector with high-quality infrastructure and a skilled workforce. We are trading the business while we explore all options to secure its future and would welcome early engagement from any interested parties.”