IT’S beginning to look a lot like Christmas at a Bradford district garden centre as it launches its festive displays.

Tong Garden Centre, in Tong Lane, will open the doors of its Christmas displays to customers with a special launch day event on Thursday, October 6, from 9am to 8pm.

The site has come up with some Christmas crackers of displays this year.

At the centre’s entrance, shoppers will be greeted by a huge display of a traditional Yorkshire-style Christmas. The area features a giant tractor, Christmas market, nativity scene and a host of animals including sheep and a robin wearing a flat cap.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: One of the models in Tong's village display One of the models in Tong's village display (Image: Newsquest)

Another area of the festive displays at the garden centre this year is the 360-degree Lemax village scene. This features hundreds of smaller designs from the model company including ski lifts, pubs, a truffle factory which are all lit up and continually move.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Christmas Market, which forms part of the entrance display which has a Yorkshire themeThe Christmas Market, which forms part of the entrance display which has a Yorkshire theme (Image: Newsquest)

This part of the display is a beacon for shoppers who wish to film the different areas to post on their social media or for them to take selfies and use it as a backdrop.

Andrew Tyers, centre manager, says preparations for Tong’s Christmas start for staff in the previous December for the following year’s festivities.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Andrew Tyers, centre manager, is looking forward to customers seeing the site's Christmas displaysAndrew Tyers, centre manager, is looking forward to customers seeing the site's Christmas displays (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “Christmas is always one of our biggest times of the year, Spring is our biggest.

“We start buying then products in December until February and then the products start coming in June and July.

“People stop at the entrance and take selfies of it. You can spend hours looking around the Christmas displays.”

To mark the launch day on Thursday, shoppers can grab 15 per cent off their purchases on the day. The Salvation Army brass band will also be performing at the centre on this day.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A Robin wearing a flat cap which is part of Tong Garden Centre's entrance display A Robin wearing a flat cap which is part of Tong Garden Centre's entrance display (Image: Newsquest)

This year, the centre has introduced a virtual reality ride for shoppers to experience a realistic journey through a magical winter wonderland. The huge snow globe will be back as will its Santa’s grotto.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: One of Tong's six festive moods rooms on display at the centreOne of Tong's six festive moods rooms on display at the centre (Image: Newsquest)

Tong Garden Centre is looking for more sustainable and include environmentally friendly choices for its Christmas products. This year it is stocking a range of Sustainable Eco Crackers that are recyclable and include plastic-free gifts.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A model of a truffle factory which forms part of the centre's entrance displayA model of a truffle factory which forms part of the centre's entrance display (Image: Newsquest)

A total of six Christmas looks for rooms also make up different displays throughout the centre. These include a bedroom, bar and a living room for shoppers to get festive inspiration for.

Tong Garden Centre is open Monday to Saturday between 9am and 5.30pm and Sundays from 9.30am to 4pm.

 

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