No kidding, Langton goats go mad for Christmas trees

An adventure farm in Langton Matravers near Swanage in Dorset, is playing its part in disposing of Swanage’s discarded Christmas trees – by feeding them to its goats.

Real Christmas trees are supposed to be taken down by Twelfth Night to avoid bad luck, which this year fell on Sunday 5th January 2025, but it’s not always easy to work out what to do with that fading fir once the tinsel and decorations have been removed.

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Putlake’s cute goats are getting a January treat of tasty Christmas trees

Natural food has many health benefits

But Becky and James Warren, owners of The Salt Pig brand who took over Putlake Adventure Farm in May 2024, have the perfect answer – to collect the conifers for their herd of 21 loveable goats.

Christmas tree needles are really high in vitamin C and goats will also strip bark from the branches and trunks, which provides lots of health benefits for the animals.

The natural food is a great antioxidant and good for goats’ gut health, is also a natural de-wormer, and the goats seem to love the flavour as well.

A social media plea by Salt Pig The Farm at Putlake for live trees – free of plastic netting, tinsel, glitter, or anything else that might make animals sick – has resulted in a surprising number being brought up to the family farm and cafe in Langton Matravers.

Putlake employee Emma is suddenly flavour of the month with her goats

“They absolutely love them”

Becky Warren said:

“We weren’t sure whether anyone would donate trees to us when we first asked, but we’ve had a nice steady stream of trees coming in, quite a few people have been bringing them here.

“Although Twelfth Night has passed, if there are still families who are unsure what to do with their Christmas trees they are still very welcome to come up here with them, have a cup of coffee and donate the conifers to our cute goats!

“Karen, who used to own Putlake Adventure Farm, always used to give leftover Christmas trees to the goats, so we know that they absolutely love them and it is a shame if trees are being thrown away when the goats could enjoy them.

“We have already received lots of them from Swanage and the surrounding villages, including a few different varieties. The goats definitely know which sort they like most and choose those to eat first!”

The alpacas are less sure what to make of Christmas trees, but Ginger the goat can’t wait to get stuck in

The goats of Christmas past quickly strip trees of their needles and bark

The goats of Christmas past quickly strip trees of their needles and bark

Putlake’s goats love attention

The farm’s alpacas have also been offered a few trees, but are less excited about the treats, preferring to graze their paddock.

It’s thought that’s because the goats have tougher mouths and are able to eat very prickly plants easily, so pine and fir needles are no problem for them.

Putlake’s herd of young goats have all been bottle fed and so are very friendly with visitors, loving attention almost as much as they love the Christmas trees.

All Christmas trees without decorations are welcome – no cases of tinselitis here!

All Christmas trees without decorations are welcome – no cases of tinselitis here!

Becky Warren of Salt Pig The Farm at Putlake takes another Christmas tree out to the livestock

Salt Pig owner Becky Warren takes another Christmas tree out to the livestock

“Thank locals for all their support”

Becky Warren said:

“Since taking over Putlake, we have made a few little changes, added some interactive elements, and opened a new cafe with a wood burner in what used to be the small animal petting centre – the guinea pigs and rabbits are still here, they have just moved home.

“We have more pigs and goats now, we want to increase the educational side of the farm and will be looking to hatch eggs in an incubator so that children can see the process all the way through from egg to chicken.

“There are also plans to have community vegetable patches here, where produce can be grown to sell, and we are thinking about ways to thank locals for all of their support since Salt Pig The Farm opened, which has been tremendous.

“We are going to introduce our Parish Breakfast on the last Wednesday of every month at the farm cafe, starting on Wednesday 29th January 2025, where locals can pop in from 9.30 am, purchase an English breakfast and grab a complimentary hot drink!”

More trees are arriving daily at the adventure farm to be naturally recycled

Salt Pig The Farm’s new cafe has opened at Putlake, with a woodburner and a range of Salt Pig products

The new cafe at Salt Pig The Farm has opened with a woodburner and a range of Salt Pig products

Cost of visiting has been reduced

James and Becky have already reduced the cost of visiting the adventure farm, bringing down the cost of adult prices from £10.75 to £5, as they felt it was unfair to charge parents so much to watch their children play on the farm.

Children’s prices have also come down to £8 during term time weekdays and to £10 at weekends and holidays, with unlimited stay times.

A toddlers’ group is now running during term times on Friday mornings from 10.30 am until 12.30 pm, with access to the soft play and adventure farm, costing £5 for one to four year olds and £2 for adults, with under ones free, and bookings for children’s parties are also being taken.

And as part of a drive to make Putlake a community centre in Langton Matravers, a mobile post office is set up in the cafe on Tuesday mornings, provided by Swanage Post Office and offering all the usual facilities – with the benefit of being able to sit down for a coffee while waiting!

An upgraded adventure fort at the farm joins a huge indoor soft play area to keep youngsters entertained in all weathers

A new go kart track is also proving very popular at Salt Pig The Farm at Putlake

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