Friday 9 December 2016

Scampston's Christmas Market

Sunday the 27th November saw our Christmas Market get under way despite the confusion with the road works on the A64! Volunteers worked hard on previous days setting up and stallholders were there bright and early on the Sunday morning unloading their wares. 

The Conservatory looked spectacular on a bright winter's day. A Scampston tree was proudly on display.

Business was brisk all day from 10am to 2.30pm with a steady stream of visitors. 



The volunteer’s craft stall had a wonderful display of Christmas gifts and decorations showcasing the hard work of the craft classes. The Bran Bin was a great hit with our younger visitors. The mulled wine and mince pies went down a treat, along with Carol Lyon’s Christmas Cake which was a sellout.



One of the stallholders selling Christmas Wreaths, planters and Festive Garlands is coming along on the 14th December to hold a class teaching attendees how to make those beautiful Christmas Wreaths and Garlands. 

To find out more about this course, visit our website www.scampston.co.uk/events or contact Gill Garbutt on 01944 758646.



Wednesday 7 December 2016

Treeific!

It's feeling remarkably festive in the Walled Garden now our Christmas Trees are on sale. We've put together some top tips to help you keep your tree looking glossy and green until the 6th January, and to prevent it dropping those pines on your presents! 
How to Care for Your Farm-Grown Christmas Tree
When a Christmas tree is cut, more than half its weight is water. With proper care, you can maintain the quality of your tree. We’ve put together a few helpful tips to keep it looking beautiful until the 6th January.

1.      Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle dropping. To display the trees indoors, use a stand which can hold water.

2.      Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and shouldn’t be taken off if possible.

3.      Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Don't cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, as this makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand. It also reduces the amount of water available to the tree. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.

4.      Keep trees away from major sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree.

5.      Ensure there are plenty of presents underneath it to keep it company, and have a very Happy Christmas!