Christmas at Stockeld Park: How a couple transformed a tree plantation into a festive wonderland

The hugely popular attraction, with its maze, adventure playgrounds and beloved Santa specials, has long proved a favourite for family visitors.

It all began with a humble Christmas tree shop, for Peter and Susan Grant in the grounds of their country estate between Wetherby and the village of Spofforth.

Now, with a year-long events calendar and summer adventure alongside a host of awards, Stockeld Park draws visitors from far and wide.

Under early initiatives to diversify the estate, the Grant family had, back in 2006, begun selling their homegrown trees to the local community rather than wholesale.

Now, the vast parkland is home to Yorkshire's largest Christmas tree plantation, with half a million trees in the ground.

This creativity was to prove the beginning of a vast adventure, with Stockeld's Christmas Adventure going on to boast the first illuminated enchanted forest in England. Filled with twinkling lights, and festive fairytale sculptures, magic can be found in the forest's walkways and adventure playgrounds for visitors old and young alike.

In 2011, the Grant family was awarded Best Family Day Out by Historic Houses for creative diversification of a traditional estate.

Then there is the yew tree maze, outdoor ice rink, and Nordik ski trail. From 2013, a go karting track, inflatables and an indoor play area. Then the Summer Adventure, with the adventure park now open every school holiday and drawing crowds of thousands from further afield.

One of the most recent additions is the Playhive, as one of Europe's largest indoor play centres, with a toddler zone and giant slides as well as interactive zones. Featuring four interconnected worlds, there are areas for space, air, the jungle and the sea, with high-level walkways spiralling tunnel slides.

For many, the parklands may be familiar from the filming of such shows as Emmerdale, while the house and stables featured in ITV's adaptation of Wuthering Heights with Tom Hardy. Home Farm was used as a main location for Swallows and Amazons.

This is an attraction, Stockeld Park outlines on its website, that is always evolving. It states: "At Stockeld Park, life never stands still – the family and their close team are constantly striving to ensure that the estate continues to prosper and bring joy to future generations of family, employees, and visitors alike."

This Christmas the adventure begins from November 19, with winter illuminations to light up the Enchanted Forest, a snowflake maze, ice rink and Santa, wreath making, panto breakfasts and a reindeer parade.​​​​​​​