Vandals damage New Brunswick trees, cutting down holiday spirit

A Fredericton-area Christmas tree farmer is upset after someone vandalised more than a dozen of his trees – costing him time and money.

‘Rosborough Evergreens’ owner Wendell Rosborough was out for a hunt when he noticed the tips of several trees strewn on the ground.

He said upon closer inspection, he noticed someone had cut the tips off the trees.   He believes that whoever took them is likely stealing them to make wreathes.

Rosborough said it takes years of hard work to grow the trees and is upset that many of them are no longer in good enough shape to sell to neighbours and loyal clients.

“You’re stealing Christmas basically,” said Rosborough.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "You're stealing Christmas basically," said Rosborough.

For 40 years, growing Christmas trees has been a family tradition at the tree lot in Harvey Station, N.B.  Rosborough says it was his father’s livelihood and says he’s been working on the tree lot “as a hobby,” since his dad retired.

He said he spent many weeks at the tree farm over the past several summers and worked many weekends getting the trees ready for the holiday season.

“It’s a hobby, but it just makes you sick that you put all that hard work into something and then somebodys ruined it,” Rosborough said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's a hobby, but it just makes you sick that you put all that hard work into something and then somebodys ruined it," Rosborough said.

Lo-Hi Christmas Tree Farm owner David Kirkpatrick said he hasn’t noticed anything out of sorts at his lot, but agrees that the vandalism cuts down on holiday spirit.

“First thing that comes to mind would be the real life Grinch,” said Kirkpatrick.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "First thing that comes to mind would be the real life Grinch," said Kirkpatrick.

He said he knows how much work goes into growing the trees and says he sympathizes with Rosborough.

“From one tree farmer to another, I know how much work goes into those trees and I just feel for the farmer at the end of the day because it is a lot of physical work,” said Kirkpatrick.

He said ‘tree season’ runs from April right up to Christmas Eve.

READ MORE: Maritime Christmas tree growers celebrating drop in Canadian dollar

He said whoever cut the pieces off his trees has “stunted” their full growth for another five or six years.

Rosborough said he’ll be installing cameras on the property and plans on getting a better lock for the gate.

He is telling other tree farmers to be on the look-out for people trespassing on their properties.