Baytree Winter Wonderland and Santa's grotto confirmed as going ahead for 2020

Santa will be returning to Baytree for 2020 after original uncertainty due to the COVID pandemic.

A spokesperson for Baytree Garden Centre, at Weston, said: "Without doubt for many people their first experience of Baytree will have been coming to see Santa as a child and wandering wide-eyed through his amazing Winter Wonderland in the build up to Christmas.

"The organisers of the Winter Wonderland in consultation with Santa himself have agonised over their decision as to whether or not to run the Winter Wonderland for 2020. There are lots of obstacles for them to get through, it would have been very easy for them to say let's not try but the elves are working hard and seem to have found a way.

"The Winter Wonderland may look different this year, but you can rest assured they will be doing everything they can to make it as magical as ever. If ever there was a need to put smiles on children's faces now is the time.

"A big change is needed to make the Winter Wonderland COVID safe so that everyone who visits can enjoy the experience in safety, therefore a major format change is planned.

"The Garden Centre has received much praise for their approach to safe shopping since reopening, post lockdown. The Winter Wonderland hope to emulate this and provide a safe journey through the Grotto. Visitors will enter and exit the attraction directly from the car park, leaving plenty of room for Baytree's Christmas shoppers to feel safe in.

"All tickets will now have to be pre-booked online, allowing adequate spacing between guests. The online booking system will be up and running on October 21 and the link to this booking system will be published closer to the time.

"All that remains to say is 'Santa's coming back to Baytree'."

The grotto is owned and operated by Baytree Winter Wonderland, which is a separate company to Baytree and the garden centre itself.