THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS AT CHURCH FARM
Church Farm is one of the Wirral’ s most popular family attractions. With it’ s family friendly animals, beautiful views, events, farm shop and café. Church Farm is three-time Wirral Tourism Award Winner, and has a firm place in the heart of Wirral families.
Steve Ledsham has been the well-known face of Church Farm for over 24 years, and is now retiring. Teaching himself to farm, he and his family have built the Farm from scratch. To a point where now the farm grows 15,000 Christmas Trees and 3,500 pumpkins, hosts 800 children egg hunting on Easter Friday and 99 weddings have been held with the breathtaking views over the River Dee to North Wales.
The 60 acre site boasts over 120 animals to see; from new emus and pygmy goats to alpacas and meerkats. Along with an indoor beach, tractor and barrel train rides, crazy golf and an adventure playground. And to recover from all the excitement families can enjoy lunch in the organic farm shop café, or have an ice cream from the new ice cream parlor.
Steve says:“ I may be looking for a new owner to take over the reins, but Church Farm remains very much open for business. We have lots of exciting events in the pipeline and I believe this Christmas is going to be our best ever. We value our very special place in the community, and enjoy giving trees to schools and churches every Christmas.
“ So many local families, including my own, have such fond memories of growing up and visiting Church Farm and I will strive to ensure that whoever I sell to will continue that legacy as well.
Steve, a former divisional commander with Merseyside Fire Service, whose only experience of farming was growing vegetables in his back garden when he bought the Thurstaston farm in 1992 says, " They have been very happy times here for me and my family. I remember the first day I came here and I walked up the hill and saw the view and knew it was a special place.
" I did everything I could to move here, I sold everything I had and went into tremendous debt but I don ' t regret any of it. I have been a very, very lucky guy to be the custodian of this place but now it ' s time to hand it on to someone else.”
Steve and his family, who have all worked alongside him on the farm, created a lucrative side-line selling Christmas trees. It has become an annual tradition for many families to buy their trees from Church Farm. Now as experts in trees, customers are guaranteed the highest quality of freshly dug up trees grown in a sustainable manner. Unlike imported trees, which are cut many weeks in advance, all their trees are freshly cut throughout December and will not drop their needles if cared for correctly.
Enjoy a magical and festive family visit to Church Farm and start your own family tradition. Pick your tree; each one lovingly grown and cared for, for over 10 years by the Ledsham family. Or visit the beautifully lit – up forest to meet Father Christmas on the Santa Experience( tickets available via the website www. churchfarm. org. uk).
Make a day of it and stay for lunch or a festive hot chocolate beside the cosy log burner, and pick up some last minute presents from the farm shop. Steve and his family look forward to welcoming you.
20 wirrallife. com