A SOUTH West children’s charity recently (January, 2018) received £2,955 from a family-run Christmas tree farm in Somerset.
The funds were raised for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) by staff and customers at Langford Lakes Christmas Tree Farm during November and December last year.
Reg Hendy from Langford Lakes Christmas Tree Farm, which is based at Middle Hill Farm in Langford Budville, said: “We’re so pleased that, with the help of our customers, we managed to collect a fantastic amount of money for CHSW. In 2016, we raised £2,686 for the charity, so we’re delighted we were able to exceed that figure in 2017.
“The £2,955 was raised by providing visitors to our farm, who came to collect their Christmas trees and to buy decorations, with teas, coffees and mince pies in return for a donation to the charity.
“We were ably assisted with these efforts by the Wellington Friends Group of CHSW who have been a great help throughout. Without our customers’ support, this would not have been possible, so a huge thanks goes to them. We’re thrilled to have collected so much money in 2017.”
CHSW is currently the only provider of specialist hospice care for children in the region. It offers much needed support for youngsters with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition and their families at its three hospices: Charlton Farm in North Somerset, Little Bridge House in North Devon and Little Harbour in Cornwall.
Wendy Pollard, Chair of the Wellington Friends Group of CHSW, said: “On behalf of everyone at CHSW, I’d like to thank Reg and his wife, Ann and their family for enabling us to raise this amazing total of £2,955.
“We are so grateful for their generosity in donating all the refreshments, which the Wellington Friends Group helped to serve to customers in the shop in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
“I would also like to thank the kind customers who donated so generously. In addition, we acknowledge with thanks the many extra ‘friends’ who joined our small group and have given so willingly in helping to serve the refreshments.
“The money has been sent directly to Little Bridge House, our children’s hospice near Barnstable, where it will be used to support the vital work of caring for the life-limited children and their families.”
Langford Lakes Christmas Tree Farm, which is well-known for its home grown, freshly cut Christmas trees, is a family run 40-acre farm that is located close to the nature reserve Langford Heathfield, a mile outside of Langford Budville in Somerset.
It is a family-run farm, owned and run by Reg and his wife Ann and their two sons, Shaun and Nick. The family has been growing and selling Christmas trees for more than 20 years.