Christmas is coming early to Marsden Moor

Christmas is coming early to Marsden Moor with the National Trust’s ever-popular annual tree sales returning on weekends from November 23.

As well as sustainably sourced, British-grown trees, there will be a selection of gifts on sale, including wooden nesting boxes and planters made by NT volunteers, Easter Gate pin badges and other useful stocking fillers.

A range of bases to suit different tree sizes will be available.

Sales will run on three consecutive weekends at the National Trust office and exhibition space in the Old Goods Yard, next to Marsden train station.

All tree buyers will be given mulled wine and mince pies, and maybe the odd carol or two. 

Proceeds will be chanelled  into conservation work carried out by the trust locally, including moorland restoration, repairing fences and protecting wildlife on the moors.

National Trust Area Ranger, Ian Dowson, said: “We’re really looking forward to the seeing many of our regular customers as well as new faces – and of course we’ll be handing out mince pies and mulled wine again.

“The money will help towards the expansion of our sphagnum moss nursery, and the growing of native plants that we can use in our restoration work.

“We’re very grateful to everyone who’s supported our conservation work this year, and to anyone who helps us protect nature.

“We are always looking to expand our group of local volunteers, whether that’s looking out for fires while on dog walks on the moor or helping with planting sphagnum moss.”

Christmas trees are available in a range of sizes, with sales from 10am to 3pm every Saturday and Sunday from November 23 to December 8 (while stocks last).

Prices range from £30 to £70 and payments can be taken by card or cash.

All the sales take place outside of the National Trust office, in the Old Goods Yard.

A guided ‘seasonal saunter’ walk, led by the National Trust’s expert volunteer guides, will also take place at 10.30am on Sunday, December 8 – the final day of tree sales – and will lead walkers on a five-mile route around Marsden, with a break for more mulled wine and mince pies.

Book via the Marsden Moor website.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.