Delamere Forest looks to improve its Christmas tree sales

Dec 17 2009 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

Delamere Forest looks to improve its Christmas tree sales

THE overwhelming success of Delamere Forest’s Christmas tree sales this year has prompted organisers to look at improving the service even more for next year.

Delamere manager Vernon Stockton said: “We have sold 7,500 trees already and we’ve still got another weekend to go. I imagine that most people will have put their Christmas tree up by now and that predominantly most of our business has been done this year, but we do have a few trees left.”

Norway spruce, lodgepole pine, Nordman fir and noble fir are all available from the Whitefield car park although Vernon admits that most of them don’t come from the forest.

He said: “We do have a few of our own forest trees but most of them are bought in from Yorkshire or Scotland.”

Visitors last Sunday afternoon were greeted by a long queue of cars along Station Road although a well laid out entrance and separate exit meant the traffic flowed slowly but steadily.

Once in the car park, refreshments including hot dogs, a hog roast, doughnuts and hot drinks were available before choosing a tree from large pens.

“We are looking to create a more traditional weekend next year with locally sourced food,” said Vernon. “We are also aware that Santa’s grotto didn’t work as well this year.

“It had more of an educational aspect which appealed to school groups during the week but did not work so well for our younger visitors on the weekend.”

Another improvement will be themed late nights on the Thursdays and Fridays of the busiest weeks.

“We hope that people will spread their visits throughout the week,” added Vernon.

The Whitefield car park site is open on Saturday and Sunday, December 19 and 20 from 9am-5pm (last entry 4pm).