Tree, turkey, sprouts and wine... now the festive ingredients are on their way

Sprouts might divide the nation, but they’re good for you, and contain five times as much vitamin C, gram for gram, as oranges. They are also a great source of iron. Sprout growers begin planning their crop for the coming Christmas in January.

Likewise, turkey farmers have to begin planning for Christmas at the start of the year, when they order their chicks from a chick farm – the chicks are then delivered in July and take around 22 weeks to mature.

Heckmondwike near Dewsbury was one of the first towns in the country to have electric illuminations, the first being put on display in 1885 – it is said that the famous Blackpool Illuminations were based on those in Heckmondwike.

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