We are thankful that our Social Enterprises are busy and well-supported by our loyal customers. It is wonderful that they are continuing to make much needed funds for the charity. John, our Garden Nursery manager, will share some news from this area:
During this season our Glasshouse has transformed from the usual activities of plant growing into a Christmas wonderland. From the vast forest of trees that are sold in our outside sales area to the customers who go on our wreath making courses, we try and provide something for everyone.
There is always great excitement across the farm when the lorry load of trees arrive and lots of helpers are on hand to move the trees into place ready for sale. This year the weather hasn’t helped but despite that, our lovely customers have arrived and chosen their own trees from the bays and we’ve been busy holding up, netting the trees and watching them disappear. Thankfully we now only have a small number left which is great!
Our ever popular wreath workshop was run again this year after we missed out on doing it last year. It has been so much fun showing people how to make a wreath from scratch and see their joy once they’ve decorated their freshly made wreath. We built a brand new workshop area for these sessions and plan to use the area throughout the year to run many more different types workshops and events.
Lots has changed here in the last few months which we are so excited with. Following on from an amazing bedding sales year where we displayed our bedding inside, we decided to use that area for other displays. We built a brand new Christmas area for our decorations and plants to be able to be displayed better. We then added a new indoor seating area for the winter months which has proved very popular especially now the weather has turned cold and wet! It’s great to see so many people coming in and enjoying the new spaces and supporting us as a charity.
We’re already gearing up for next season and are waiting for the first batch of the 50,000ish plugs to arrive early in the New Year. One season ends and another one starts. For now though, we’re enjoying the season of Christmas and remembering the real reason for the season where we get to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
John