Families searching for an enchanting Lapland-style Christmas experience without the travel costs need look no further than Tamworth. A local garden centre is offering a magical festive attraction featuring its very own herd of real reindeer.
A Magical Festive Experience
Planters Garden Centre has created a traditional Christmas grotto where children and adults can immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. The centrepiece is a beautifully decorated TiPi, where young visitors can craft their own plush reindeer toy to take home. They will also receive special reindeer food to scatter on Christmas Eve.
After writing a Christmas wish to hang on the tree, guests get the chance to meet Santa Claus in his grotto. The adventure continues with a walk through the herd of reindeer, allowing plenty of time for photos and getting close to these majestic animals.
Meet the Swedish Reindeer
The reindeer are a key part of the attraction. A spokesman for Planters explained that the centre owns a small herd of female reindeer. The original animals were born in Sweden in May 2012 and arrived at the Tamworth centre in February 2013.
The entire herd lives on the family-owned farm in Tamworth, where they are constantly monitored. Their diet is carefully managed to ensure their health and includes barley straw, specific reindeer dried pellets, and the occasional treat of ‘reindeer’ moss imported from Lapland.
"Reindeer are not used to a rich diet, especially lush grass, and we therefore introduce grazing gradually," the spokesman added. "All this leads to them getting exactly what they need from their food so that they can thrive."
Plan Your Visit
The reindeer grotto event takes place on weekends throughout December, as well as on December 22, 23, and 24. The final day for visits is Christmas Eve.
To complete the experience, the on-site coffee shop is serving festive drinks like gingerbread lattes, mint hot chocolates, and cherry and pistachio hot chocolates. Every child also receives a gift from Father Christmas.
Visitors are advised to wear warm clothing for their outdoor adventure. The journey from Birmingham is straightforward, taking just over 20 minutes via the M6 and M42, traffic permitting.
Tickets and more information are available to book via the Planters Garden Centre website.
