Following on from the sell-out success of last year’s Santa’s Grotto at Marldon Christmas Tree Farm, children and parents are once again invited to meet Santa, his elves and a real reindeer in a magical experience this December.
Santa will welcome visitors for a fairy-tale adventure in the enchanted snow-covered grotto in Totnes Road, Marldon, with all proceeds going to support Rowcroft Hospice. Each child will have the chance to chat to Santa and will receive a special Christmas gift. Tickets are priced at £16 per child and are available at: rowcrofthospice.org.uk/santasgrotto
Hannah Palmer from Newton Abbot visited the grotto with her three young children last December, and they are planning to visit again this year. She said: “The Marldon grotto was such a wonderful and memorable experience for all our children aged one to ten! The grotto was decorated beautifully, the elves were friendly and kept the children entertained whilst queuing, along with the lovely reindeer! Santa took the time to talk to each of our children and there was plenty of time for photo opportunities. Rowcroft is a cause close to our hearts so it was lovely to know that our visit would make a small difference especially at Christmas.”
At designated times from the end of November, Marldon Christmas Tree Farm is also offering additional festive attractions which include a Christmas market, visits from real huskies, performances by carol singers, as well as bouncy snow globes and a snow machine. There will also be a log cabin café selling warming drinks and festive treats.
“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,” said a representative of Marldon Christmas Tree Farm.
“The grotto is a well-established, very successful side of our business and following on from last-year’s sell-out triumph, we are once again handing the grotto over to Rowcroft Hospice to run. As all the proceeds in their entirety go to the hospice, every booking goes a long way to help this really worthwhile and fantastic cause of caring for patients and their loved ones in our community. We strongly believe in pushing the ‘true’ meaning of Christmas, which to us, is giving back.”
Staffed predominantly by hospice volunteers, the grotto will be open Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 – 17 December, and all day every day between 18 to 23 December.
“We were thrilled by our community’s amazing support of Santa’s Grotto last year,” said Alison Upton, Rowcroft’s Philanthropy Manager. “Our tickets sold out so fast in 2022 and we’re expecting the same high level of demand again this year, so do be quick to book your tickets to guarantee your child’s place. The opportunity to visit Santa in our grotto is certainly a unique annual highlight for any child, and a beautiful way to embrace the special magic of Christmas.
“Our community’s support at this time is essential because we’re hoping to expand our services so that we can care for more people who need us across South Devon. Funds raised through Santa’s Grotto will help us to do this.
“Every single ticket purchased really makes such a difference. For example, the proceeds from your ticket can pay for a delicious Christmas lunch with all the trimmings for three patients in Rowcroft’s Inpatient Unit. Or if you purchase two tickets, this will go such a long way to providing an hour of care for a patient at home in their last two weeks of life.
“We’d like to say a massive thank you to Marldon Christmas Tree Farm for their generosity in enabling us to run the Grotto. Their kindness means that we’ll be able to raise crucial funds to care for patients and families across the region.”
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.
To book your child’s place at Santa’s Grotto, go to: www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk/santasgrotto or call 01803 210821.
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