The annual visit to Chopwell Wood to make a pick from the masses of Christmas trees for sale is a tradition for many families.
Chopwell Woodland Park in Gateshead provides the perfect setting for the festive outing, with fairylights and music - and weekend visits from Santa - all adding to the atmosphere as the smell of pine, spruce and fir fills the air.
The tradition was much missed during the pandemic and this year will see a big change too, with Christmas trees being available for sale for just one day instead of the usual full season. But the good news is that it sounds like it will be quite a day, built around a special event called Christmas in the Pines.
Read more: guide to where to buy real Christmas trees around the North East
The sales of Christmas trees at Chopwell - which are all grown in the country but do come not from its own wood - help to fund the year-long work of The Friends of Chopwell Wood, a charity and voluntary group which cares for the area; carries out conservation projects and hosts events ranging from bat-watching to foraging.
The sale of Christmas trees is its main source of funding. The group has explained the reason for this year's changes.
It says its sale partner, Formoss, has now retired after many years of helping it to raise funds for Chopwell Wood. It thanked the company for all the years they have worked in partnership, adding it has been unable to secure a new partner for this year. So, sales will have to be restricted.
The date for the diary will be Saturday, December 3 when sales will take place between 11am and 3pm, as part of the Christmas in the Pines event. The trees will be very local, coming from Trathan’s of Blackhall Mill, a village just south of Chopwell.
Helping to create a thoroughly festive feel at Christmas in the Pines will be a visit from Santa and there also will be music and refreshments available. The Friends group will host a stall at the event and other attractions will include archery and bikes.
The hope is to have a new sales partner in place for Christmas tree sales in 2023.
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