Marldon Christmas Tree Farm Santa's Grotto takes on ‘true’ meaning of Christmas as it's handed over to Rowcroft Hospice

Marldon Christmas Tree Farm has invited Rowcroft Hospice to take over its much-loved Santa’s Grotto to offer a magical experience for local children this December.

Staffed by hospice volunteers, the grotto will be open Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays from December 1 to 16, and all day, every day, between December 17 to 23.

In the enchanted snow-covered grotto at the North Pole, Totnes Road, Marldon, children will have the chance to meet Santa and his elves, encounter a real reindeer, and receive a special Christmas gift.

A Marldon Christmas Tree Farm spokesperson said: “Here at Santa’s Grotto you can create a magical memory that will last a lifetime with your family, and together we can make a real difference for our local community.

“The grotto is a well-established, very successful side of our business and this year we have completely handed it over to Rowcroft to run, without any attributable costs whatsoever for services.

"As all the proceeds in their entirety go to Rowcroft Hospice, every booking goes a long way to help what we think is a worthwhile and a fantastic cause.

"We want to really push the ‘true’ meaning of Christmas, which to us, is giving back.”

The cost for the fairytale adventure is £16 per child, with all proceeds going to support Rowcroft’s work.

“This is a fabulous opportunity for local families to truly experience the magic of Christmas in this little wonderland at Marldon Christmas Tree Farm,” said Asenath Colbourne-Laight, Rowcroft’s corporate and philanthropy fundraiser.

“The chance to visit the grotto and chat to Santa is a unique festive highlight for a child. While you’re there, you can enjoy the spirit of Christmas by choosing your tree, treating yourself to mince pies in the café and browsing the Christmas shop on site.

“As a charity funded predominantly by the generosity of our local community, it’s vital for us to continue to raise much-needed income to care for our patients and families.

"Our community’s support at this time is essential because we’re experiencing an increasing demand for our care yet a decrease in donations due to the rising cost of living.

“We’d like to say a massive thank you to Marldon Christmas Tree Farm for their generosity and for donating the space for our grotto and helping us to raise crucial funds for our care.”

Oliver Somerville, a father from Newton Abbot with three children aged 7, 5 and 3, said: “Visiting Santa at Marldon Christmas Tree Farm is one of our favourite festive family activities, and this year we get to support the most fantastic charity all while spending time together.”

Rowcroft Hospice supports more than 2000 patients with life-limiting illnesses across South Devon each year. The hospice currently cares for one in three people with a life-limiting illness in South Devon but aims to expand its care to reach more people.

It is hoped that Santa’s Grotto will provide much-needed income for the hospice during this difficult time.

You can book your slot at www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk/santasgrotto or by calling 01803 210821.