Children from Somerset will this month (December, 2012) be able to meet Father Christmas at a garden centre in the county to tell him their Christmas wishes. Santa’s grotto at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Monkton Heathfield near Taunton is open every weekend in December from 10.30am until 4pm.
Norma Moore, General Manager of the family-run garden centre, said: “We hope that lots of children will come along to meet Father Christmas in his grotto and help us raise money for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).” CHSW is providing Santa with his helpers and profits from the grotto will go to the charity, which is one of the garden centre’s charities of the year. It is currently the only provider of specialist hospice care for children in the region. Norma added: “We also have two donkeys at the garden centre as part of our Father Christmas’ grotto. “We hope youngsters and adults will enjoy seeing the donkeys, who are penned near to Santa’s grotto. Some children find the excitement of going to see Father Christmas overwhelming, so the animals offer a more relaxing alternative.
“Father Christmas likes to take his lunch break from 1pm until 1.45pm to feed his reindeer.” Entry to Santa’s grotto costs £5 per child and includes a gift, a Christmas colouring card and a sticker. Santa’s grotto will be open at the garden centre every Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am until 4pm until Sunday, December 23.
Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The award-winning, independent family-run garden centre was launched in 1982 and is run by the Bellman family with the help of nearly 100 staff. Some have been with the business for more than 25 years.
For more information, please call the garden centre, which is located just off the A38 at Monkton Heathfield between Bridgwater and Taunton, on 01823 412381
