Christmas trees that make a difference

Create a festive tradition for conservation

The rangers at Longshaw have been selling sustainable Christmas trees to the public for many years now, in order to raise vital funds for conservation projects. The funds raised from the tree sales enable the rangers to improve habitats for wildlife, create nest boxes for owls, kestrels and pied flycatchers and supports the development of their native tree nursery; which will eventually provide saplings to plant in the woodlands across the Peak District.

Ranger Chris explains, "purchasing a sustainable tree from us helps to fund work that is directly fighting the adverse effects of climate change. Not only will you have a real Christmas tree in your home throughout the festive season, you will know that your support has enabled the planting of 25 Oak trees in our native clough woodlands, or funded enough sphagnum moss to plant in 3 hectares of moorland that helps in re-wetting the moors and storing carbon, or paid for materials to block  a moorland erosion gully, slowing the flow of water and helping to reduce flooding. Please remember to recycle your tree after Christmas, and turn it into compost – another way of storing carbon."  

This winter the team at Longshaw invite you to join them for some festive cheer when selecting your Christmas tree. When you come to create a family tradition at Longshaw you are helping us to look after this beautiful and dynamic estate and its wildlife for future generations. Longshaw is a place of historical importance to many and after the 1927 appeal to secure the estate’s future – it was firmly placed in people’s memories as the ‘People’s Estate.’

Harry Bowell buys his tree from Longshaw with his family every year without fail, "Longshaw was bought for the nation by people rattling tins for donations in Sheffield nearly 100 years ago. The Trust have been looking after it for many years now along with another 30,000 acres in the Peak District, where the nature, landscape and beauty is loved by hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Caring for all of this takes money and all funds raised from the sale of Christmas trees gets ploughed back into looking after the Peak – from drystone walls, to the woods in Padley Gorge; from looking after the amazing wildlife on Kinder Scout to teaching kids about nature."

Finding your Christmas tree

The Longshaw Christmas trees are grown at the estate or at other local nurseries, or are brought in from other sustainably managed UK growers to meet demand, and include Norway Spruce, Fraser Firs, Lodgepole Pine and ‘non-drop’ Nordmann Firs. Ranger Mark and his team will be ready to safely welcome visitors from November 27th - 24th December, Monday - Sunday 9:30am – 16:00pm in the grounds of the Moorland Discovery Centre in the main Woodcroft car park at Longshaw. In order to keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe, we will be operating a little differently this year but we look forward to welcoming you and your bubble to create some festive traditions. Here are some tips to help guide you:

• We have a one-way system in place
• We can only accept card payments
• Quieter times (more time to have a look) are Monday - Thursday
• Please adhere to the latest Government guidance to keep you and others safe
• Please be patient and be prepared to wait, as things may take a little longer than normal
• Wrap up warm - hats, scarves, gloves, sturdy boots or wellies are a good idea
• Please only park in designated car park spaces and not on grass verges, roadsides and over access points
• Dogs must be on short leads at all times

Families wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of Christmas can also join in the festive fun with the Red Deer Roaming route, which you can discover along the woodland path near the Welcome Building from Sat 28th Nov – Sun 10th Jan. From all of us here at Longshaw we wish you all the best for the festive season.