This company replants your Christmas tree – then rents it back to you every year
Instead of being left to turn brown and die on the side of the road, Green Tree Glossop will give your Christmas tree new life - collecting and replanting it for use the following year
A Christmas tree company in Glossop is offering ethically-minded customers replantable trees that can be rented back year after year.
Christmas trees at Green Tree Glossop are grown in special pots planted directly into the ground, meaning they can be replanted at the end of the festive period
The company gives you the option to choose a tree, which it delivers to your door in time for Christmas.
It then collects the trees back in January, replants them in the ground, and looks after them all year – ready for you to rent back year on year.
Image: Green Tree Glossop
This means that people can rent a tree year on year that literally grows with their family, with some even naming their trees for that added personal touch.
As well as offering a sustainable tree rental service, Green Tree Glossop also provides dedicated tree care advice to ensure the tree stays at its best throughout the season and can be successfully replanted for the following year.
Fake snow and glitter are a no-no, as is pruning – which can lead to infection. Renters are also advised to water their tree daily and keep it away from any heat sources to avoid killing it before it can be returned to the ground.
It’s a no-brainer for anyone trying to have a more sustainable Christmas this year.
Image: Green Tree Glossop
The company stock a range of different trees, including popular varieties like Norway Spruce, Blue Spruce, Nordmann Fir, and Fraser Fir, uploading pictures of all trees to its shop for customers to choose from.
First established in 2019, the family-run business offers a Christmas tree delivery service in Glossop and to its surrounding villages.
Delivery is limited to a small radius as driving too far adds to the carbon footprint, undermining the environmental benefits of replanting trees in the first place.
In previous years, customers from further afield have been able to collect their trees in person – although it is not clear whether that service will be available this year due to Covid-19.
Pictures of this year’s trees are currently being taken, ready to be uploaded to the shop for ordering. To find out more, visit the company’s website here.
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains are back again this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally only the second week of September, and we’ve technically still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of Halloween and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The heritage railway has announced that its popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam train rides are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
You can already grab tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides this Christmas / Credit: ELR
And in recent years, the much-loved event has been even bigger and better than ever before.
ELR’s ‘Santa Specials‘ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station.
You’ll first get to meet some old favourites and new characters, including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess, all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves, with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
The famous East Lancashire Railway ‘Santa Special’ steam train / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipple, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
East Lancashire Railway’s famous Santa Specials are running on weekends and selected weekdays from Saturday 22 November – Wednesday 24 December.
Tickets now on sale starting from £22.50 for kids and £23 for adults.
You can book your seats here before it’s too late.
Featured Image – ELR
Christmas
Manchester’s largest outdoor ice rink is returning to the city centre this festive season
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s massive outdoor ice rink has been confirmed for a return to Cathedral Gardens once again this festive season.
Skate Manchester has always been a festive staple of our city centre, and there’s also a flurry of other frozen events and activities planned for 2025 too – including the return of the Scare Skate for Halloween.
Following success in previous years, Scare Skate returns this spooky season, and families, friends, and festive fun seekers visiting the rink this season can expect Halloween-themed music, lighting, and themed props to ignite the fright factor.
After Halloween, the magic continues as the rink transforms into a festive wonderland.
Manchester’s largest outdoor ice rink is returning to the city centre this festive season / Credit: Supplied
Skaters can expect to glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink.
You’ll be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store for our city this year too, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
The rink will also offer a variety of skate sessions tailored to meet the needs of all visitors, which includes dedicated quiet and toddler sessions designed for a more relaxed environment, along with discounted tickets and weekly events for students.
New this year is the Skate on and Skate off ‘Pit Lane’ available during skating for those needing a break and a hot chocolate or mulled wine, plus a VIP ticket option allowing for a fast-track entry into the rink.
Super early bird tickets are now available to buy / Credit: Supplied
Skate Manchester is also one of the most sustainable events in the UK, thanks to being partially powered by the grid.
“We’re proud to bring one of the top five largest ice rinks in the UK to Manchester once more, as part of our mission to create magical and sustainable winter events that will set the standard for winter attractions globally,” commented Rob Derry, who is the Director at Tamarisk Events, the company that coordinates the event.
“By being partially powered by the grid, Skate Manchester is one of the more environmentally responsible attractions of its kind, allowing visitors to enjoy the magic of skating with a lighter footprint.”
Skate Manchester will be returning to the city on Saturday 25 October and running right up until Sunday 4 January 2026, with super early bird tickets now available to get your hands on, and discounted family tickets and student night tickets also available.
You can find more information and to book tickets here.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd November 2021 
