Devon garden centre invites families to winter wonderland

Otter Garden Centres in Ottery St Mary is holding a special Christmas event this December - with all proceeds going to Hospiscare.

It’s the latest step in fundraising for Otter’s charity of the year, Hospiscare, which the family-run garden centre business has supported since 2019. It is also part of Otter’s 60 Good Deeds, celebrating its sixtieth anniversary by giving back to the local community.

The non-profit event offers festive fun for all the family and plenty of opportunity for interaction with magical Christmas characters and landscapes.

Included is a Christmas mail room where children can post letters to Santa with their present requests. Adults can join in with their own Christmas wish or resolution for 2025. The reindeer retreat is where everyone can join in with songs from a choir of animated reindeer, followed by a winter wonderland with beautiful scenes and characters, perfect for selfies and snaps.

Children then pick up cookie mix from the special Christmas kitchen, a perfect treat to bake at home, before gathering reindeer food to sprinkle outside on Christmas Eve. The final flourish is a short ride on a land train back to the main garden centre.

Otter’s Managing Director, Jacqui Taylor said: “We are very excited to launch a new Christmas event this year, as we partner with our charity of the year, Hospiscare. We hope families will come together with us to create magical memories, helping us raise much-needed funds for this vital local charity.

“We think this is a fantastic way to celebrate the season of goodwill to all and make a real difference in our community.”

The event will run from December 17 to December 23 from 9am until 4:30pm, with extended opening to 7pm on Wednesday December 18.

Toni Hiscocks, Area Fundraiser for Hospiscare, added: “As a local and independent charity, we feel very lucky to be able to continue to build and grow this very special relationship. It is exciting that we are able to work together with Otter in such a special way, engaging with their team and allowing our local Fundraising Support Group, Otter Vale Friends to continue to work very closely with the Otter Garden Centre team to raise vital funds.

“This partnership means so much to us and will have a lasting impact on our patients and their families we are currently supporting, allowing Hospiscare to continue to be there and support local families who need the specialist end of life care during the most difficult time. Here’s to another 60 years of kindness, compassion and community spirit”

Tickets go on sale on November 19 and cost £8 for children, £6 for babies 12 months and under and £6 for adults. This covers entry to the Festive Adventure activities, a donation to Hospiscare and, for children and babies, cookie mix and reindeer food. Tickets must be purchased in advance from: Festive Adventure.