Annual Tree Planting – Sailors Creek & Father Christmas at Enys
Our annual tree planting is a collaboration between Sailors Creek CIC and Father Christmas at Enys, and has developed into a lovely local tradition with a long-term purpose.
The story actually begins at Christmas the year before. Children visiting Father Christmas at Enys Gardens are given seeds or acorns and encouraged to take them home, plant them and care for the young trees as they grow.
Almost a year later, in November, the families are invited to bring their young trees to Sailors Creek, where everyone comes together for a community planting day. The children therefore get to follow the process all the way through — from receiving a tiny seed or acorn at Christmas, to nurturing it at home, and eventually planting their own young tree into the ground.
In November 2025, more than 60 young oak trees were planted at Sailors Creek. Families turned out despite the showers, with children getting thoroughly involved and plenty of muddy hands. Father Christmas at Enys described the children as a little army of “woodland helpers”, helping to grow what has become known as the Christmas woodland.
The idea behind the Father Christmas at Enys tradition is a simple one: plant trees at Christmas rather than chopping them down.
What makes the project particularly rewarding now is its continuity. Each year we aren’t starting again, we’re adding another generation of trees. During the planting day we can see the trees planted by families in previous years becoming larger and more established, while another group of tiny saplings goes into the ground alongside them.
It’s also a very tangible way for children to experience conservation. Rather than simply hearing about the importance of trees and habitats, they’ve had responsibility for something living for almost a year and then have the satisfaction of physically planting it somewhere it can continue to grow.
The planting is gradually creating new woodland and contributing to the wider work at Sailors Creek to care for and regenerate the land for nature. The available planting area has filled considerably as the tradition has grown, and further clearing is needed to create space for future years.
Enys Gardens
For more information about Enys Gardens, visit their site using the link.
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