The popular Christmas Tree Farm and Festive Shop at Home Farm, Methley, near Leeds, is now open.
The glittering festive shop, which has been expanded and extensively refurbished this year, enjoyed a successful Christmas last year, despite anti-Covid measures being in place. The expansion of the Christmas offering together with a new entrance and exit one-way system at Home Farm is the idea of Jamie Savile, whose family has owned the Methley estate since the 15th century.
Jamie said: "This is the first Christmas since 2019 when we can operate normally and we are determined to make the most of it. Our popular shop is now full of splendid Christmas gifts and our undercover barns, bigger and better than ever, can now house up to 300 ready-to-buy Christmas trees.
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"Choosing a tree from Methley, either from our barns or from our nine-acre Christmas tree field, is a much-loved tradition for many local families at Christmas time – and we always do our best to exceed expectations. This year, our lime-tree-lined avenue will be lit up with twinkling Christmas lights, making the whole occasion very festive and special.
"Our farm manager planted the first tree in 1996 and now the farm has 20,000 trees being grown at any one time, so there is a wide range available from ultra-green potted 2ft-4ft trees to 12ft giants, from Nordman Firs, to Norway Spruce and Fraser Firs.
"We are acutely aware of the cost-of-living crisis, with many families having to budget very carefully, so we are keeping our prices as low as we possibly can. In particular, we believe our cut-your own Norway Spruce remains excellent value.
"Our Click-and-Collect scheme is now live on our website, with our specific opening times, too. We are opening late on Thursday, December 1 and December 8, and on that night, the Methley Melodia Choir from St Oswald's Church will be singing carols
Jamie said: "There is no doubt that Christmas is going to be very different again this year. While there will be a greater sense of freedom and joy than last year, with more families spending Christmas together, people will be watching what they spend."
Situated on the confluence of the Rivers Aire and Calder, the Methley Estate is part of Mexborough Estates owned by the Savile family. The estate was once home to Methley Hall, which was built in 1588.
Having been requisitioned by the army during both the First and Second World Wars, the hall also became subject to significant mining subsidence and extensive dry rot and was sadly demolished in the late 1950s.
Mexborough Estates grows Christmas trees in Hawnby, near Helmsley, as well as at Methley. The Hawnby trees are sold at Methley.
Jamie added: "In the past, people have said that they love coming to see us at Christmas because it is an authentic experience, as opposed to buying an anonymous tree in a supermarket. We believe our friendly Christmas shop adds to this authenticity and makes buying a Christmas tree here an enjoyable and memorable experience for all the family. This year, like last year, that is more important than ever."
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