Celebrate a green Christmas at Grizedale

The Forestry Commission is inviting people to enjoy a green Christmas at Grizedale Forest this year, when Green Father Christmas returns to his log cabin in the forest for the weekend.

Visitors will be able to escape the crowded high streets and buy a real tree from the forest sales centre from 1 December 2011. The Forestry Commission only sell trees that are grown in the UK and in a well-managed way and more trees are planted every year than are harvested. 
 
Green Father Christmas will be in his log cabin in the forest on 10 and 11 December, with his ancient and enchanting winter tales, as well as a gift for every child. There will also be forest craft activities in the Yan building and a self - led trail through the forest.

The craft activities and trail will also be available on the weekend of 17 and 18 December.

The Forest Shop will be stocking a range of seasonal crafts and gifts and the Café in the Forest will be serving a mouth-watering array of festive home cooked food throughout December.

Sarah Bruce from the Forestry Commission at Grizedale Forest said:

“At Grizedale we’re trying to promote a less overtly commercial Christmas, with more of an emphasis on sustainability and traditional crafts.

“Father Christmas’ green outfit is the more traditional take on the festive tradition, as the original Father Christmas of the old English midwinter festival dressed in green as a sign of spring returning.”

The Forestry Commission is also running a competition to celebrate real Christmas trees and asking people to post their Christmas tree photos to the Forestry Commission's Flickr site - www.flickr.com/groups/gbforestrycommission. The best dressed tree will win two tickets to a forest concert of the winner's choice.

Advance booking is necessary to see green Father Christmas as places are limited. To book, email grizedale@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or call 01229 860010

More information about the green hearted Christmas at Grizedale Forest can be found at www.visitlakelandforests.co.uk.

Notes to editors:

1. The Forestry Commission only sell trees that are grown in the UK and in a well-managed way.  More trees are planted every year than are harvested. The Forestry Commission also guarantees a quality product, including an FSC option, sold to you by an helpful and expert team of staff. 
   
   
2. The Forestry Commission is the largest provider of countryside recreation in Britain, with responsibility for more than one million hectares (2.4 million acres) of forest, woodlands and open countryside. The North West England Forest District covers the Lake District in Cumbria, the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The forests are managed for conservation, wildlife, landscape and recreation as well as providing a valuable source of timber.

Media contact:
Sarah Bruce on 01229 862026.