Accessible from Leicester
Friezeland Christmas Tree Farm
At this farm in the chocolate box village of Market Bosworth, a 35-minute drive from the city of Leicester, you can call dibs on your spruce in November. Claiming to be the largest pick-your-own farm in the whole of the UK, Friezeland allows visitors to tag their favourite tree in autumn, while it’s still growing, and then return to collect it when the festive season has fully begun. You can chop down your tree by hand or avoid the hard work altogether and have the Friezeland team deliver it straight to your car or even your front door. Go for a wander around the village centre afterwards to buy one-off gifts in the dinky boutiques and stuff yourself with towering cakes and marshmallow-topped hot chocolate at patisserie Maison Rose. It is Christmas after all…
Address: Friezeland Christmas Tree Farm, Wellsborough Road, Market Bosworth, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV13 6PD
When: Friezeland Christmas Tree Farm is open now every day until Christmas Day, 9am until dusk
Website: christmas-tree-farm.co.uk
Accessible from Glasgow
Eden Christmas Trees
This year-round farm shop and café is set in the Scottish countryside, just west of the Campsie Fells Mountain range. Come wintertime, Eden also opens its tree fields to the public, where visitors can pick up potted trees, pre-cut pines and spruces, or embark on a ramble across the sprawling farm to find their favoured Nordmann Fir to take home. For added greenery, there are handcrafted wreaths made with foliage plucked from the fields, too. Don’t miss the delicious local food in the café, such as Cullen skink with soda bread and Eden steak burgers with Lockerbie cheddar, which will set you up nicely for yet another walk – this time around stunning Loch Lomond, only a 40-minute drive away.
Address: Edenmill Farm, Blanefield, Glasgow, G63 9AX
When: Eden Christmas Trees is open from 26 November to 23 December, 9am-6pm Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday and Sunday. Cut Your Own is available every Saturday and Sunday in December, 9am-3.30pm
Website: edenchristmastrees.co.uk
Accessible from Bristol
Frenchay Christmas Tree Farm
Less than 10 miles from Bristol city centre, Frenchay is a family-run farm spanning around 18 acres. Having planted the first Norwegian Spruces in 1999, there are now 40,000 trees growing across the site, including an additional five varieties: Blue Spruce, Serbian Spruce, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir and Nordmann Fir. Head down to pick your own (which the Frenchay team will helpfully chop down for you), peruse a selection of pre-cut trees, or buy a premium ready-potted one. Visit on a Sunday and you can weave in a trip to The White Horse, a friendly pub with wood burning stove and roast dinners worth travelling for. Cider-braised Gloucester pork belly with crackling and apple sauce, anyone?
Address: Frenchay Christmas Tree Farm, Old Gloucester Road, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1QW
When: Frenchay Christmas Tree Farm is open every day from Saturday 19 November until Christmas Eve, 9am-5pm
Website: frenchaychristmastreefarm.co.uk
