| Where: | Formerly at Keele, Staffordshire at the Keele Christmas Tree Farm on Station Road |
| When: | Formerly Friday in late November/ early December |
| Time: | Formerly Daylight hours from 9 am until 4pm |
A new winter sport spread to the UK from Germany: Christmas tree throwing! On the continent it’s a well-known post-Christmas activity and a way of disposing of redundant evergreens after the holidays but here in the UK at Keele it was an Advent activity done just for the fun of it. The very first competition was held at Keele Christmas Tree Farm in 2014 as a charity fundraiser and competitors hurled their 6-foot spruces along a course for length and over a bar for height. Friendly staff were on hand to advise on the best techniques to employ, and while you were there you might consider purchasing a tree from the vast array on sale at the Farm.
Helpful Hints
It was held on the Friday before the first weekend in December for a few years – they’re too busy selling trees to run the competition over the weekend. Throwing took place all day on demand – it tended to be busier later in the afternoon when those who finish work early on Fridays could get there. Returning tree chuckers attempted to better their score from the previous year.
In 2018 it was on Friday November 30th but the competition hasn’t been held since..The farm will still be open for tree purchases and other entertainments whether the throwing is on or not. If the event is revived or you hear of anything similar elsewhere please let me know!
The Farm is easily found – a giant inflatable Santa overlooks the entrance. Hot drinks and light snacks are available on site.
Click here for the Farm website: http://www.keelechristmastreefarm.co.uk
and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Keele-Christmas-Tree-Farm-750744291605992/
I contacted the farm to check if they would be tree throwing this Christmas.
I was informed that they haven’t held this event in fours years and not planning to do it this Christmas.
What a shame! but from an environmental point-of-view it probably doesn’t look so good trashing perfectly good trees. After xmas it would be a different story and makes more sense disposing of them.
Thanks Greg- it’s a pity as it was a fun event (though logically you’re right- it would be more sense to the chuck the trees after Xmas!). I keep lapsed events up on the web pages so people can see they aren’t happening any more, and you might be surprised at just how many have fallen but the wayside since I started writing up the site. I did read about a post-xmas tree throwing competition a few years ago (in Sussex I think) but guess it must have been a one-off so if you hear about any more do let me know!
Best wishes,
Averil