The Bank View Farm Christmas Tree Tradition

Bank View Farm is fortunate to be located on the edge of some of the most spectacular moorland landscapes in England.  It is easy to get straight out from the farm into stunning nature reserves.

Christmas @ Bank View Farm

Every year our sons wanted a real Christmas tree but in a busy working family it was not high up on the to-do list. For many years we would end up with the last wonky tree with the gappy branches that was left in local greengrocers on Christmas eve or we made do with an artificial tree.

A Walk to Longshaw

Then we moved to Bank View Farm and the boys took matters into their own hands, they organised a pre-Christmas family ramble to our local National Trust property – The Longshaw Estate. This is a lovely three mile walk directly from the farm, we walked up the track, across the moors, dodged the puddles, threw sticks for the dogs and startled the grouse and instead of heading straight for the wonderful tea rooms they took us to the Christmas tree sales area.

We have no car; we can’t get it home I said. We’ll carry it said the boys and so the Christmas tree tradition started. They selected the biggest tree, “hope you’ve got a big car” teased the salesman, “we’re carrying it”, replied the eldest son. The salesman laughed at the presumed joke and said he would help carry it to the car. The boys got some rope out of a rucksack, fashioned a harness and prepared to set off. The assistant came over to me and whispered that they offered free delivery, I think we’re taking the eco boy-powered option I answered, downed my mulled wine and we set off up the hill.

We carried it back between us all to the farm. It was hard work and we attracted many stares and some admiration from other walkers and mountain bikers. In following years, they prepared themselves better and now carry a ladder to strap it to. We all look forward to the fetching of the tree, it’s a lovely way to exercise the dogs on a winters afternoon and mark the start of the Christmas season.