Thank you to absolutely everyone that visited us for our 2024 season. You made 2024 our busiest season yet!
30,000 pumpkins were picked in the autumn! You joined us at Rainfords Farm for a pumpkin season full of pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving, Spooky Picnics in the Trees, and a pumpkin spiced latte or two from our Après Tree Cafe. Our spooky, silly, murder mystery trail, 'Who Killed John Jack Rainford? A Whodunnit Trail' was a huge success through our trees with so many families joining the fun. We're looking forward to this becoming a staple at the farm for years to come!
Then, as autumn turned to winter, the barn at Rainfords Farm became as magical as ever. The time came for thousands of trees to be chosen, cut, and taken home to be admired; fulfilling their true Christmas tree destiny, all lit up and decorated.
This year was no exception - with thousands of homegrown Christmas trees. Nordmann Firs, Norway Spruces, Fraser Firs, Noble Firs, Balsam Firs and beautiful Blue Spruces we had Christmas trees galore and you came and choose yours! As a choose and cut farm it was wonderful to see more trees tagged in November than ever before!
Over the years we have seen generations of family traditions being made with families visiting year after year, children growing up and continuing their traditions with their own little ones at Rainfords. It means everything to be a part of your family's Christmas traditions. One of our own favourite traditions at Rainfords Farm is the gift of a baby Christmas tree to all the babies born since the previous Christmas. Seeing so many babies turn into grown-ups and saplings turn into trees over the years has been incredible.
The Après Tree Cafe was busier than ever. With hot chocolates, fresh coffees and delicious food including hot breakfast barms using the best bacon and sausages from Cook's of Rainford, cakes and gingerbread from Mr Thompsons Bakery and Blackburns pasties and pies served beside our roaring log fire. There were steins of beer in October and mulled wine and Lunetta Prosecco at the Apres Tree Bar in December.
A Trail through the trees, our Enchanted Picnic in the Trees, late nights, Wreath Workshops, elves and magic. It was a great season in the barn. It was stocked with beautiful Christmas tree decorations, twinkling lights and home decor.
Our floristry team made fresh fir wreaths, garlands and grave pots for beloved lost ones. Foliage bundles were more popular than ever as so many of you made your own Christmas creations with our homegrown fir.
We closed now until the end of September 2025 - we'll be back with our Pumpkin Season Opening Weekend and we have lots of exciting plans for an incredible 2025 season!
✨ Christmas starts at Rainfords!
Open daily throughout Autumn and the Christmas season. Serving hot drinks, delicious, locally sourced food and seasonal sweet treats. Proud to use a local butcher for our bacon and sausages, a local baker for our bread and pastries, and a local family owned bakery for cakes and gingerbread. Even our hot chocolate is sourced just 13 miles from the farm.
The Rainford family have been at Catchdale Moss Farm since 1858. Farmers at heart, but diversification has always played a part in our business.
It was fifth generation farmer, Richard Rainford over 47 years ago, who had the idea to plant Christmas trees. Whilst we still farm the land, we now grow tens of thousands of Christmas trees of different varieties and are proud to be the largest home grown tree farm in Merseyside.
The Christmas tree farm has grown over the years. In 2016, the barn went up - Packed full of seasonal decorations, velvet pumpkins, christmas baubles and lights of every colour! The Apres Tree Cafe and Apres Tree Bar both followed. A hot chocolate on the Chesterfield has become a tradition for so many! Or a prosecco before heading out amongst the trees.
Diversifying again, pumpkins were planted on the farm. But with an unique selling point - instead of trapesing through muddy fields, pumpkins were harvested and cleaned and brought over to the picking fields for a unique family experience, without the mud!
2023 was the year we introduced Picnic in the Trees. A way to celebrate the opening of the new field to the public after a decade of growing and nurturing, and the response was absolutely phenomenal! Due to popular demand we're thrilled to be bringing Picnic in the Trees back this season. Keep an eye out for a spooky version this year too!
Christmas trees were interplanted for the very first time in Spring 2024. We are excited to be doing this year on year moving forward. For each tree that is cut, another will be planted the following Spring in its place.
As a family run farm work never stops. Preparing the trees for Christmas really is a year round job and we're always looking ahead to make it the best customer experience. 2025 will be the best season at Rainfords yet!
