A Natural Christmas: Trebah Garden Welcomes Back Santa After Five Years

Trebah Garden, near Falmouth, is celebrating the festive season by showcasing the natural beauty of its sub-tropical paradise. Staff and volunteers have worked hard to transform the garden’s Visitor Centre into a dazzling display of Christmas decorations, using plants and leaves collected from the garden’s 26-acre valley.

This year’s theme combines sustainability with creativity, as gardeners have crafted tinsel from chestnut and acer leaves and incorporated cuttings from Trebah’s iconic 70-year-old hydrangeas. These hydrangeas, which blanket the garden in blue each summer, are joined by exotic contributions such as Banksia, Callistemon, Agapanthus, Pterocarya, Eryngium, and bamboo.

Adding a unique touch to the festive decor, palm fronds crown the Christmas tree instead of a traditional angel, nodding to Trebah’s sub-tropical microclimate and its famous Chusan palm, the tallest of its kind in the UK.

Sustainable Christmas Inspiration

Trebah gardener, Gemma Boothroyd, highlighted the sustainable approach, saying: “The gardeners were given a brief this year to create a natural Christmas. We wanted to combine the spirit of Christmas with the magic of Trebah by bringing the outside in for everyone to enjoy and to show that there are treasures to be found in the garden in places you would never usually consider; seed heads, leaves, flowers – it doesn’t have to cost a lot to have a beautiful Christmas which is also great for the planet.”

Nestled among the decorations, visitors will also spot a returning favourite – the Elford Express, a model locomotive packed with presents bound for the North Pole.

Santa Returns for Stories and Fun

For the first time in five years, Father Christmas will make a special appearance at Trebah Garden with the festive event, Stories with Santa. Taking place on 7th & 8th, 14th & 15th, and 21st & 22nd December, the experience includes a magical storytelling session inside a log cabin. Children can also help Santa find his mischievous elves hidden in the garden and write a letter to post directly to the North Pole. Every child will leave with a small sustainable gift.

Spaces for the event are limited, and booking is essential. Details can be found on Trebah Garden’s website: Stories with Santa.

A Festive Day Out

Jon Cummins, Trebah’s CEO, expressed his excitement about the garden’s Christmas offerings: “Trebah has long been known for its stunning Christmas displays and is remembered fondly by generations of children. We are delighted Father Christmas is heading back to Trebah for Christmas 2024. I’m really proud of the job our team of staff and volunteers have done of creating our new festive look and we are looking forward to welcoming all our visitors over the next month to see Santa and of course everyone coming to enjoy the garden, taste our Christmas menu or to browse for quality gifts in our shop.”

Visitors can also explore Trebah’s four miles of footpaths, adventure play areas, and a private beach on the Helford River. The award-winning restaurant and shop offer additional opportunities to enjoy a day out at this sub-tropical gem, open daily from 9.30am.

For more information about events and activities, visit Trebah Garden.