The Christmas tree ceremony at Church House is less grand but is nonetheless one of our favourite events of the festive season. We travel to Cranborne Manor to select our tree and choose the same species as the Trafalgar Square specimen because it scents the house so beautifully. The Manor sits on Cranborne Chase, once a medieval hunting ground popular with King John (of Magna Carta fame). Today's Manor is a very modern enterprise, fully engaged in earning its living in the 21st century. It has a garden designed by John Tradescant in the 17th century - you can visit this in the summer, a garden centre, a thriving butchery and farm shop selling rare breeds meats and many farming tenants working arable and livestock farms. The Christmas trees sold at Cranborne are grown on the estate and we really look forward to our shopping trip, where great care is taken to choose a tree of perfect proportions! When the selection is complete, we usually feel very cold and repair to the Coffee Shop where thick soups, warming drinks and homemade cakes can be purchased.