With bonfire night well and truly over and the festive season rapidly closing down on us, if you’re looking for a real Christmas tree, you may start to be wondering where to buy it from. In recent years, garden centres have become a decent option and have made purchasing a Christmas tree much more of an experience. They’ve also expanded their ranges considerably and it’s now possible to buy a range of trees including Fraser Firs, Nordmann Firs and the original Norwegian Spruce.
However, for those of you who want to buy local and have a much greater range of tree species, then there is nothing more magical than buying a Christmas tree fresh from a Christmas tree farm! On top of that, it’s a great way to spend the day with the kids and kick off the Christmas season.
We usually buy our tree on the first Saturday of December! After going out to a farm (occasionally in snow), we’ll then head to a local pub for a good meal before heading home, showering and getting into our pj’s before lighting the wood burner and watching Home Alone!
We’ve got a great range of Christmas tree farms across Manchester and East Cheshire and in this article we’re rounding up some of the top picks for you.
Ivy Cottage Christmas Tree Farm
📍Ivy Cottage Tree Farm, Racecourse Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5LG
☎️ (+44) 1625 531609
🖥️ Ivy Cottage Website
Key Info
Established in 1982, Ivy Cottage Farm is located just a few minutes drive from the centre of Wilmslow and about 10 miles south of Manchester city centre is Ivy Cottage Tree Farm.
Opening Hours
- From the first weekend in October: 10:00 – 15:00 (weekends only)
- From 20 November 2023 until Christmas Eve: 09:00 – 17:00 seven days per week
Christmas Trees
If you want to, Ivy Cottage Tree Farm, lets you select a Norway Spruce or Fir straight from the ground. You can reserve it and then come back to collect it closer to Christmas. When it comes to Norway Spruces, you have the flexibility to choose between potted, root-balled, or cut options.
Insider tip: Give yourself plenty of time. There is no real order to where each type of Christmas tree is, so for instance, Fraser Fir is in Section E – G (ish). However, a lot of the good ones from that section may already have been reserved, so you’ll have to head to the more remote areas to find the best ones!
However, Fir trees are typically only available for cutting due to their extensive root systems.
For those looking for more convenience, Ivy Cottage Tree Farm also offers a remarkable selection of pre-cut trees, including Nordmanns, Fraser Firs, and Lodgepole Pines. The Lodgepole Pine wasn’t a Christmas tree that either of us had ever encountered before visiting Ivy Tree Cottage last year, however it is a lovely tree, similar in price to the Fraser and Nordmann Fir. However it has a lovely growing habit and a beautiful pine scent! It is definitely our favourite tree that we have discovered now – having overtaken the Fraser Fir which has a nice compact habit.
In terms of tree size, Ivy Cottage Christmas Tree Farm routinely stocks trees up to around 12 feet (3.5m) in height, if you want larger, they can source larger trees upon request from their other plantations.
They don’t provide a price list on their website, but provide indicative prices for the upcoming season on their Facebook page. At the time of writing this info wasn’t available, but we’ll update this page as soon as it is!
Other Bits and Bobs
In addition to Christmas trees, Ivy Cottage Tree Farm also sell a great range of Christmas decorations, charity Christmas cards as well as cut logs for your fire.
They also have a small hut ‘The Spruce Shepherd’s Hut’ available to rent for two people. There is a wood-fired hot tub, BBQ and large decking area- with wifi and a smart TV as well and is available to rent from December through to the end of September.
Grappenhall Christmas Trees
📍Carr House Farm, Broad Lane, Warrington,WA4 3ET
☎️ 07841 118928
🖥️ Grappenhall Christmas Trees Website
Key Info
A family run business located near Warrington and one of our firm favourites – Great Budworth be sure to check out Grappenhall Christmas Trees stocking a diverse array of Christmas Trees. For 2023, Grappenhall are also running a ‘SustainabiliTREE’ event on 18th and 19th November where you’ll receive a free mini tree to plant at home when you purchase a tree.
We haven’t yet been to Grappenhall Christmas Tree Farm, but have it on our ‘to do list’ and are thinking of heading there this Christmas. If we do, we will be sure to update the page accordingly.
Opening Hours
- Monday to Thursday 12:00 – 18:00
- Friday 10:00 – 19:00
- Saturday 09:00 – 17:00
- Sunday 10:00 – 16:00
Christmas Trees
Like with Ivy Cottage Tree Farm, Grappenhall stocks all the usual trees that you’d expect to find including Nordmann Firs, Frasers and Norway Spruces. Like with Ivy Cottage, they also stock a number of more unusual trees that you definitely can’t buy from a garden centre including ‘Blue Spruce’ and Serbian Spruce.
Prices start from £25 for the Norway Spruce which is their entry tree price rising to £50 starting for a Fraser Fir!
Other Bits and Bobs
Grappenhall doesn’t sell any other items, unlike Ivy Cottage Tree Farm. Grappenhall offers local delivery of Christmas trees with a price based upon the mileage from the farm to your delivery address with the minimum charge being £6.
Clayton Fold Christmas Tree Farm
📍Clayton Fold Farm, off Clayholes Road, Kettleshulme, High Peak, Cheshire, SK23 7EJ
☎️ 01663 732672
🖥️ Clayton Fold Christmas Tree Farm Website
Key Info
Perhaps the largest of all the Christmas Tree farms covered, Clayton Fold Farm is located on the edge of the Peak District. Again, we haven’t been here ourselves yet, so cannot comment on our experiences,
Opening Hours
Clayton Fold Christmas Tree Farm doesn’t open until 24th November 2023 and will remain open every day until 20th December 2023. Their opening hours are from 08:30 and 18:00.
You also need to book to visit if you wish to attend on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. This can be done through their online booking portal
Christmas Trees
Like with all the other local Christmas tree farms covered, Clayton Fold Christmas Tree Farm stocks all the typical trees that you’d expect. They also have a range of other more unusual trees including Meyer Spruce, a Rocky Mountain Fir and the Serbian Spruce.
Prices start from £25 for a 3-4ft Norway Spruce and £32 for a 3-4ft tree of all other species!
Other Bits and Bobs
Unlike the other farms covered, Clayton Fold charges a £3 fee for choosing from the field and taking home on the same day. They also charge £5 if you reserve early but then want to collect nearer to Christmas.
So Choose a Date and Get Your Tree
So don’t wait until it’s too late! Choose the perfect real Christmas tree from our top picks across Manchester and East Cheshire.
Visit your local farm today and start the festive season with a tradition that brings joy to your home.
