Historic British forestry firm collapses after 200 years with 32 jobs at risk and £8m debt

A historic Scottish forestry business with roots stretching back more than two centuries collapsed into administration owing creditors more than eight million pounds, newly released documents have revealed.

Christies of Fochabers, based at Arradoul Farm near Buckie in Moray, entered administration last year after mounting cashflow pressures left the seventh‑generation family business unable to continue trading.

Joint administrators Graham Smith and Michelle Elliot of FRP Advisory were appointed in September to oversee the process.

The business was acquired in February by Alba Trees, one of the United Kingdom’s largest forest nursery operators, in a deal worth two point six million pounds.

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The sale included one million pounds for the company’s property and land assets, and all thirty two employees were retained, preserving the workforce after months of uncertainty.

The administrators’ report, first reported by The Herald, sets out the scale of the financial difficulties facing the company before its collapse.

At the time of administration, Christies of Fochabers owed its bank five point five million pounds.

Virgin Money has so far recovered seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds through the process. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is owed four hundred and nine thousand pounds and is expected to receive a dividend.

Unsecured creditors face the largest shortfall, with claims totalling around one point eight million pounds.

The two point six million pounds achieved through the sale represents only a proportion of the company’s overall liabilities. According to the administrators, several factors contributed to the collapse.

Periods of cold weather prevented trees from being lifted and delivered to customers, reducing sales and intensifying pressure on cashflow.

The administrators said: “Significant investments had been made in recent years, including investments into cold store facilities, grading machines and purchasing steam sterilisation machines.

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“In addition, a large number of vehicles were acquired on hire purchase.”

The report said these investments left the business carrying substantial debt while revenues were insufficient to meet operating costs and loan repayments.

The seasonal nature of the forestry industry added further strain, with lower summer sales prompting repeated requests to extend overdraft facilities.

At its peak, the company managed around 130 million young trees across five sites in Scotland, supplying customers involved in forestry, woodland creation and land management.

Before entering administration, the company also operated a garden centre, which was sold separately to Simpsons Garden Centres for one point seven million pounds in June 2025.

Following the acquisition, an Alba Trees spokesperson said “Christies of Fochabers has a strong heritage in bare root tree production, supplying restocking and new woodland creation projects across forestry and land management markets.”

The spokesman added: “The acquired assets materially enhance Alba Trees’ production footprint and capability, strengthening its position as one of the leading suppliers to the UK forestry sector.”

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