Kielder Water & Forest Park is spreading festive cheer across the land!
Over 400 giant Christmas trees have been felled in the 62 hectare (155,000 acre) Northumberland wilderness to stand proud in prime locations including the Houses of Parliament in London, Sunderland, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Kielder is one of the few places in the UK able to supply so many high quality oversized specimens thanks to careful management over many decades by the Forestry Commission.
But when it comes to Christmas trees, one woman at Kielder Castle also knows her onions!
Forest chiefs have invited 49 year old Yvonne Riley, who runs the popular Dukes Pantry at the 18th century visitor centre in Kielder Water & Forest Park, to sprinkle the glitter and launch this year’s sales of smaller festive foliage. Freshly cut pines, fir and spruce will be available at the castle during the first three weekends of December from 11am to 4pm and also on 11 and 14 December.
For the first time Yvonne’s tearoom – the only one in England’s remotest village - will stay open throughout the winter to cater for the growing numbers of visitors heading to Kielder Water & Forest Park to hear the call of the wild.
Yvonne has lived in Kielder since she was three years old and took over at the Dukes Pantry in 1997. But long before she was a masterchef she was a lumberjill, working in the forest for five years planting, brashing and marking trees for felling. She explained:
“The forest has really changed and with lots more people kicking around thanks to all the facilities being created. The Lakeside Way, cycle routes and the Kielder Observatory have become really popular, so it’s a good time to try opening throughout the winter. We’re even doing curry nights which has really spiced up Tuesday evenings.”
Christmas at Kielder Castle will also feature an Christmas Fayre on 12 December featuring craft and gift stalls, carols (3pm) and a special ‘Stars with Santa’ astronomy event at 6pm (booking required on 01434 250209).
Before then on 5 December Kielder Castle shop and Purple Mountain Bike Centre are offering 20% discounts across the board on gifts and cycle hire. Ranger Malte Iden added:
"It's a really hectic time in the forest but a fabulous place to chill out and experience a real winter wonderland."
For information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/northeastengland or call Kielder Castle on 01434 250209.
NOTES TO EDITOR
By following these simple tips a Kielder Xmas trees should stay fighting fit with a fulsome foliage over Yuletide:
- If you don't put the tree up straight away and want to store in the garden cut one inch off the tree stump and stand in bucket of water in a shady place.
- When you do bring indoors, cut another inch off the trunk and place in a special tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water. Don’t put in sand or soil.
- Keep trees away from fireplaces, heater vents or other heat sources. Always keep well-supplied with water and check water levels every day.
Trees on sale at Kielder include:
Norway Spruce - the most traditional looking Christmas tree - has a mid-green colour, a fine, delicate foliage and a distinctive 'Christmas' scent - a 4 foot tree contains 150,000 needles!
Scots pine - a really fragrant native conifer with an attractive blue-green foliage and soft needles.
Nordmann fir - has distinctive broad, bold green needles with whitish underside. More expensive, but highly prized.
The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible in England for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests and increasing their value to society and the environment. Forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from planting and managing attractive, as well as productive, woodlands.
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