Now Christmas is over and those tinsel-covered trees are coming down, there’s a brilliant eco-friendly way to put your unwanted tree to good use. Lakeland Maze Farm Park near Kendal is inviting local households to drop off their real Christmas trees for the farm animals to enjoy.
The working farm at Raines Hall is home to a wide range of friendly creatures — from goats and sheep to llamas, alpacas, ponies, donkeys and more. After the festive season, many of these animals love exploring and nibbling on old trees. The fir needles and bark can provide sensory enrichment and a bit of extra fibre for curious goats and other grazers (similar to other UK farms that recycle trees for animal enrichment).
It is also a great way to recycle naturally and avoid landfill. The animals get something fun and stimulating, and your tree gets a second life in the fresh Cumbrian countryside.
Why the animals enjoy them
- Goats and sheep will often chew branches and needles, which can give them enrichment through varied textures.
- Llamas and alpacas enjoy picking at bark and exploring the scent left in the boughs.
- Ponies, donkeys and other stock sometimes use the branches for play or scratching, keeping them curious and active.
(As with other farms that accept donated conifers, trees need to be without spray or decorations and free of tinsel, lights and wire for safety.)
Where to drop them off
📍 Lakeland Maze Farm Park
Raines Hall, Sedgwick,
Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 0JH.
Directions:
- From the A591/A590 roundabout, turn towards Sedgwick and go through the village. After the canal bridge, take the second right at Carex Farm and continue under the railway bridge — the farm entrance is on the right.
- From the A65, follow signs for Sedgwick and Crosscrake, go past the church, and the farm is on your left.
- From Kendal, head out on Natland Road toward Sedgwick, take the first left at Carex Farm, and follow the lane under the railway bridge to the farm on the right.
Before you set off, remove all decorations and lights from your tree. Only real, unsprayed trees can be accepted for the animals’ health and safety.
It’s a feel-good way to recycle your Christmas tree, support local farmers and brighten up a winter day for some very happy animals at one of Cumbria’s most loved attractions.
