Pick your own Christmas Tree
Key details
When:
2025 Opening Times:
8th & 9th November 10:00 – 15:30
15th & 16th November 10:00 – 15:30
Where:
This year’s plantation is at:
The Rookery
Sow Lane
Rougham, Bury St Edmunds
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Pricing:
Tickets to come to the plantation (not yet available - usually made available for booking late September)
Per tree: £12.50
Trees from: approx. £20
Collection Weeks (Saturday to Thursday):
22-27 Nov (Red)29 Nov-4 Dec (Blue)6-11 Dec (Orange)
Choose your perfect tree on the plantation
Tickets will be available late September/early October.
Everyone has their own idea of the perfect Christmas tree. What could be better than going onto the plantation and choosing it for yourself, right where it has been growing for years! You can wander through hundreds of trees of different shapes and sizes until you find “the One”.
It’s a wonderful experience for everyone; very exciting for children, and your dog (on a lead) is welcome to come with you too.
We’ll cut your special tree, perfectly fresh, just a day or two before your selected collection date.
Choose from 3 collection weeks when you book; your tree will be at the Barn ready, wrapped and waiting for you from Saturday until the following Thursday.
At a time that suits you (within our opening times), come to Blackthorpe Barn, pay for your tree, take it home and make it look beautiful for the festive season (perhaps include a visit to the Christmas shop for some new decorations!).
Tree Prices
This year’s pricelist for cut trees is available a week or so before the PYO Tree weekends.
Rough price guides from previous years are:
6ft Nordmann/Fraser Firs: approximately £45,
6ft Norway Spruce: approximately £30.
Your tree will be measured and priced according to the current year’s prices.
The PYO Tree service of opening the plantation and then locating, cutting and preparing your chosen tree for your specific collection date costs £12.50 in addition to the normal cost of the tree.
Rougham Estate is a proud member of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association.
If you have any queries about your tree, email us on hello@roughamestate.com
Important information
Wheelchairs and prams are welcome on the plantation. Please note that the terrain is very uneven and can be muddy if it’s been raining
Gallery
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HOW PYO TREE WORKS
01
Booking: Choose your time-slot to come to the plantation
Book your time-slot ticket for when you would like to come to the plantation and choose your tree.
Time-slot tickets are booked and paid for online using the buttons on this page.
You can come to the plantation with as many people as you like; the time-slot ticket is to time your arrival at the plantation and the cost is for the first tree you choose.
The cost of £12.50 per tree is in addition to the cost of the tree.
02
Booking: Choose the number of trees and the names to go on labels
With each time-slot ticket, you are able to choose up to 4 trees from the plantation.
Upon booking, please tell us how many trees you would like to select and tell us the name to go on the label for each tree.
03
Booking: Choose your Collection Week
When you are booking your time-slot ticket, tell us which week you would like to collect your tree(s) from the 3 collection weeks on offer (end of November to mid December).
All the trees booked on one time-slot ticket must be collected in the same week.
Each tree will get a coloured label corresponding to one of the 3 collection weeks: Red for the first collection week, Blue for the second week and Orange for the third collection week.
Please note – we are unable to change your collection week once you have chosen it.
04
Booking: Payment
Each tree chosen on the plantation incurs a cost of £12.50 in addition to the cost of the tree.
The time-slot ticket price, paid online at the time of booking your ticket, covers the choosing of your first tree.
We will take the payment for any extra trees you book when you check-in at the plantation (card preferred).
05
Make your way to the plantation for your booked time-slot
The plantation this year is at The Rookery, the same place as in 2024. You will find the entrance almost opposite the entrance to Ravenwood Hall Hotel, and just south of Junction 45 of the A14.
There is a map and directions lower down this page. It is about 1 minute’s drive from Blackthorpe Barn.
WHAT TO BRING
Please wear sturdy shoes or boots – the plantation can get muddy.
You may want to bring gloves or waterproofs – the trees can be prickly and wet.
You may also want to wear your most festive Christmas jumper or hat and get some great pictures while you’re here!
06
Parking
There is plenty of free parking at The Rookery plantation.
Park near the plantation where you will see a banner and the Christmas tree check-in hut.
There will be a coffee trailer here serving warming drinks and snacks while the PYO Christmas Tree event is open.
07
Arrival at the plantation
Arrive at the plantation in enough time before your designated time-slot to check in (map below). You are welcome to come with the whole family and your dog, on a short lead.
A smooth check-in for everyone depends on the timed arrival process working well – please help us by arriving on time.
In the event of poor weather on the day, we still go ahead with the timed check-ins on the plantation and cannot rebook your time-slot.
08
Collect your personalised label
Check in at the plantation confirming your contact details, the number of trees you want to choose and the week you have chosen to collect them.
At this point you will be given your coloured tree label(s), personalised with the label names you entered at the booking stage, and some useful information including your tree label number(s).
If you booked to choose more than one tree (up to a maximum of 4), pay for the extra trees at the check-in hut: £12.50/tree (card preferred).
09
Finding your tree on the plantation
Enter the plantation and take a good look around. There are lots of trees of different sizes (mostly Nordmann Fir).
When you have found your perfect tree, tie your coloured label securely near the top so we can spot it easily at cutting time. Please make sure the tree you choose does not already have a label on it.
The coloured label is how we, and others, know that this tree is yours and it lets us know when we need to cut it for you. Once your label is in place we cannot change it.
Why not take a selfie with your tree and tag us @roughamestate – we love to see you with your tree!
10
Location Bay
Please make a note of the numbered bay area in which your tree is located.
This makes it easier for us know where to look for your tree when it comes to cutting time.
11
Check-out of the plantation
On your way out of the plantation stop off at the check-in hut again and let us know which numbered bay area your tree is in and what type of tree it is, if you know.
Now you can relax in the knowledge that you are going to get the exact tree that you want to be the centrepiece of your Christmas festivities, freshly-cut and prepared for you, ready when you want it.
12
Visit Blackthorpe Barn for a browse
Blackthorpe Barn is about 1 minute away, so perhaps go to Roots Café there for a warming drink after your adventure, or for a browse around the Christmas Shop, which is open on both PYO Tree weekends and the Arts and Crafts Fair, open on the second PYO Tree weekend.
13
Tree Cutting
Just a day or two before your selected collection week we will locate your tree on the plantation using the coloured label you attached to it.
Your tree will be cut and brought to Blackthorpe Barn where it will be prepared and wrapped for collection.
14
Collection Week Email
A day or two before your chosen collection week we will send you an email reminding you that your tree will be ready for collection from Saturday to Thursday.
This email will include the personalised name you chose to be written on your tree label (at the booking stage) and also your tree label number.
Please ensure that whoever comes to collect your tree has this information with them – this saves looking through hundreds of trees and avoids taking the wrong tree home.
15
Collection from Saturday morning to Thursday evening
Come to collect your tree during your chosen week. It will be waiting for you, ready and netted in the Christmas tree sales area, to the side of the big Barn.
Your tree will be available from the Saturday morning until the Thursday evening.
* Red labelled trees: collection from Saturday 22 November – Thursday 27 November
* Blue labelled trees: collection from Saturday 29 November – Thursday 4 December
* Orange labelled trees: collection from Saturday 6 December – Thursday 1 December
Don’t forget to bring the reminder of what you wrote on your tree label, and the tree label number, so that you can find your tree easily.
Please make sure you take your own tree and not someone else’s.
16
Pay for your tree and visit the Christmas Shop
Pay for your tree at the payment hut.
While you are here, why not treat your new tree to some new decorations from the Christmas Shop, or find some quality hand-crafted gifts at the Arts & Crafts Fair (weekends only).
Take your tree home and enjoy the wonder of Christmas with your very special tree.
Why not show us how gorgeous it looks by tagging us @roughamestate – we love to see where our Rougham Estate trees spend Christmas.
To keep your tree looking good, we suggest following these tips on looking after your cut tree.
17
Tree Delivery
We can offer a tree delivery service within a 30 mile radius of the Barn, if preferred. The delivery cost depends upon the distance.
Let us know at the check-in hut at the plantation if you would like your tree to be delivered.
For more information, please email Simon Eddell (Christmas Tree Manager) on simon@roughamestate.com
18
Any other questions?
If you have any other questions, please have a look at the FAQs section below.
Things to bring
- Warm and waterproof clothes: tree branches can be very wet
- Gloves: some trees can be quite prickly
- Sturdy footwear: the plantation be muddy with puddles
- A tape measure to make sure that the tree is the perfect size to fit your house
Predominantly Nordmann Fir
Due to most people wanting Nordmann Fir for the long needle-retention times and softer needles, this is the predominant tree grown. However, there are other types of tree including Norway Spruce and Fraser Fir, but in smaller numbers.
Plantation
Due to trees being grown in cycles, the plantation is constantly evolving, with some trees being cut and others becoming bigger. Therefore the area from which customers can choose a tree will alter as years go by.
Information about pre-cut trees here
See other Christmas events
PLEASE NOTE
When trees are cut
For safety reasons, we cannot cut any trees in the plantations on days when the public are there and members of the public cannot cut trees themselves.
Your chosen tree will be cut at least a week (or more) after your visit the plantation.
Cancellations
If you are no longer able to attend do please cancel your ticket, releasing the time slot for someone else.
Refunds can only be given if the booking is cancelled 3 days in advance of the booked time.
Please fill in the cancellation form (link in the ticket email).
TESTIMONIALS
WHERE TO FIND US
Sow Lane
Rougham, Bury St Edmunds
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Plenty of parking at The Rookery.
Free to park.
Disabled access to the field is available.
This is a field which can be muddy and uneven underfoot.
The plantation at The Rookery is situated just south of Junction 45 of the A14, between the junction of the A14 and the entrance to Blackthorpe Barn.
The entrance to the plantation is just opposite the entrance to Ravenwood Hall Hotel, about 200m from the Barn.
FAQs
The PYO Christmas Tree event is set up to be as efficient as possible, which means that each tree is labelled with a coloured tag and all trees with that colour label are cut at the same time.
Red labels – Collection Week 1
Blue labels – Collection Week 2
Orange labels – Collection Week 3
We are unable to go and search for your specific tree on the plantation and cut it on another day.
Yes, you are welcome to bring well-behaved dogs on a lead to the Christmas Tree plantation when you come to choose your tree.
- Please keep your dog under control at all times and ensure that your dog does not disturb other people’s enjoyment of the premises or block any passageways.
If the weather is a bit chilly, dress up warmly – the plantation is all outside. If it’s been raining, do wear wellies.
You may like to bring gloves because the trees can be a bit prickly, and bring a camera to take a picture of your beautiful tree and where it has been growing.
If you feel like it, why not come in your most festive Christmas jumpers and hats!
Bring the family – it’s a great experience for young children.
You are welcome to bring your well-behaved dog on a short lead too.
Once your tree has been tagged with your colour-coded label, your chosen collection week cannot be changed.
All the trees with the same colour label are cut at the same time (Red: Week 1, Blue: Week 2, Orange: Week 3).
Your tree will be held for you from the Saturday morning of your chosen collection week until closing time on the following Thursday, so you have six days to pick it up.
If your tree is not collected by the end of that Thursday, it will be offered for general sale with the other cut trees.
Due to most people wanting Nordmann Fir for the long needle-retention times and softer needles, this is the predominant tree grown.
However, there are other types of tree including Norway Spruce and Fraser Fir, but in smaller numbers.
The PYO Christmas Tree event happens at one of the tree plantations on Rougham Estate. Which plantation is used is decided upon on a year by year basis.
In 2025 the plantation is The Rookery, which isn’t actually at Blackthorpe Barn but is very close and is halfway between the Barn and junction 45 of the A14. You can find the details of how to get there in the Where To Find Us section of the PYO Trees page.
To get to the Barn, use this postcode: IP30 9HZ.
Not all events on Rougham Estate happen at Blackthorpe Barn; please check the specific details for the event you wish to attend.
More information on finding us easily can be found on our visitor information page.
We will cut your selected tree a day or two before your chosen collection weekend and will hold the tree for you until closing time on the following Thursday.
You can collect your tree at any point from the Saturday morning until the Thursday evening (during our opening times).
If you haven’t collected your tree by the end of Thursday, your tree will be added to the general cut Christmas trees sales area for anyone else to select and buy.
You are welcome to come as a family to the plantation to choose your Christmas tree(s). The booking you make is for an arrival time, so that we can manage the check in process efficiently, not for a specific number of people.
Once you are checked in, you are welcome to stay at the plantation until you find your perfect tree.
You can choose up to 3 trees from the plantation in one timeslot booking, with a charge of £10 per tree (in addition to the cost of the trees).
You are welcome to have 3 different names on the tags for the 3 trees, just tell us the different names when you make the booking.
We will take payment for the extra trees when you check in at the plantation.
The PYO Christmas tree service is available to you to enhance your Christmas experience, if you would like to.
We open up the plantation for you to visit and find your perfect tree, giving you a personalised weather-proof label with which to tag your tree.
A day or two before your specified collection weekend we then go to the plantation, search for your chosen tree (double-checking it is indeed your tree!), cut it especially for you, measure and net it and set it aside for you.
The cost for this service is £10.
If you don’t wish to pay this £10, you are very welcome to choose from the pre-cut trees available in the Christmas Tree Sales Area.
Unfortunately we can’t change your chosen collection week once you have booked your time-slot.
Your tree will be held for you from the Saturday morning of your chosen collection week until closing time on the following Thursday. You have six days to pick it up.
If your tree is not collected by the end of that Thursday, it will be offered for general sale with the other cut trees.
CANCELLATIONS AND REBOOKINGS
If you have only booked your time-slot ticket and have not yet been to the plantation to choose your tree, and you need to change either your picking or collection times, you may be able cancel your PYO Christmas Tree ticket and rebook for another time.
You can only receive a refund for your time-slot ticket if you cancel more than 3 days before you are booked to visit the plantation.
Booking a new time-slot ticket depends on what tickets are still available at the time.
Let us know you want a refund for your original booking on hello@roughamestate.com
Yes, we offer a Christmas tree delivery service within a radius of about 30 miles from Blackthorpe Barn. Depending on where you live, the delivery cost will vary accordingly.
Please email Simon Eddell, the Christmas Tree Manager, on simon@roughamestate.com for details.
Unfortunately we cannot change your timeslot due to forecast poor weather.
We will go ahead with the check in at the plantation even if the weather is not great.
Yes, we have some lovely dog walks around the Estate. Please see our Walks page.
Although Rougham Estate is known for its Christmas tree plantations, there’s lots more to do here too, especially at Christmas!
Roots Café is open all year round at Blackthorpe Barn, as is the Christmas shop at Christmas time, and the Garden Room shop at others times.
For the second weekend of PYO Christmas tree, the renowned Arts and Crafts Fair is also taking place in the medieval thatched barn – just the thing to get you into the mood for Christmas, with makers from around the country selling their hand-crafted goods. You’ll find the perfect Christmas present here.
Don’t forget to visit the fabulous Christmas Shop too, open daily from mid October to a few days before Christmas.
There are also walks of different lengths and difficulties that start at the Barn and take you around the Estate.
At different times of the year we hold other events such as the sunflowers in summer and pumpkins in autumn.
Keep your eye on our social media accounts and our website to see what’s happening here.
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New specials at Roots Café this week include…
Our Sandwich Special (part of the 2 for £20 deal, Monday to Thursday) is a crispy Tempura Fried White Fish with Thai Green Curried Mayo and fresh Asian Slaw – full of flavour and crunch!
For Brunch, we’ve got Bourbon BBQ Pulled Pork Bao Buns with Pineapple Salsa and Pickled Red Onions – the perfect mix of smoky, sweet and tangy.
Perfect for a midweek treat or a weekend catch up.
#RootsCafe #RoughamEstate #CafeSpecials #BrunchGoals #FoodieFavourites #SuffolkEats #suffolkeatslocal
We open our very popular Christmas Shop in 30 days!! But is it too soon to be mentioning the ‘C’ word? #roughamestate #blackthorpebarn #chritsmascountdown
You may notice the shop is shrinking or changing slightly? All for good reason though…
We’re preparing for the Christmas Shop! 🎄
Each week it will be different as we close off some areas to stock for Christmas but also open up new spaces to move it around.
There’s still plenty of fabulous items to browse. We look forward to seeing you soon! #roughamestate #blackthorpebarn #Christmasiscoming #stock
Watson Plants are back this Friday the 19th and 20th of September. There’s still time to give your garden some TLC before winter draws in and speak to Chris who can give you some green finger advice #wintergarden #roughamestate #watsonplants #gardenexperts
🎃It’s almost pumpkin time!🎉
Oh yes, the nights are drawing in, there’s a chill in the air and the pumpkins are ripening. Isn’t this one of the best times of the year!
📆The Rougham Pumpkin Patch will be open again this October; every weekend and then daily from 27th - 31st October, 9am - 5pm.
🎟️Entrance and parking are free.
⏰No booking needed, just come along.
🎃Pumpkins priced according to size, just pay for what you pick.
🐕Dogs welcome in the picnic area and the little doggy pumpkin patch, but not in the main pumpkin patch due to having had too much mess to clean up in previous years.
🌯There will be plenty of food and drink available, including beer and prosecco.
Every weekend we will have the following food outlets with us:
Our very own Roots&Co @whatthe_peck @kiernanscoffee @samu_kitchen and @geegeebakes
And on various weekends we’re looking forward to also welcoming:
@badboiburritos @itsotisbreading @tikka_tonic and @macstkitchen
🧺Or bring your own picnic, if you would like to.
🧒🏻With the big bale pyramids, little pumpkin games, sandpits and pedal tractors, there’s plenty to keep everyone happy…
🎃 as well as thousands upon thousands of pumpkins, gourds and squashes
📸and loads of photo ops.
🔦On 2 Saturday evenings, 18th and 25th October, the Patch will be open for Pumpkins by Torchlight including a silent disco, 6pm-9pm. Headset tickets will be bookable soon from our website.
👋We can’t wait to welcome you here and see all the fabulous fancy dress!
All the details from our website.
🎃Who else can’t wait? See you soon!!
#roughamestate #roughampumpkins #burystedmunds #suffolkpumpkins #pumpkintime #octoberiscoming #pumpkinseason #pumpkinpatchfun
New specials at Roots Café this week…
Our Sandwich Special (included in the 2 for £20 deal, Monday to Thursday) is delicious- Rosemary Chicken layered with Roasted Red Pepper & Garlic Hummus, fresh Rocket and Red Onion.
And for Brunch, we’ve got something hearty: Beef Meatballs served with Toasted Focaccia, Marinara Sauce, Basil Pesto and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
Perfect for a catch up, a treat midweek, or just because.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
#RootsCafe #RoughamEstate #CafeSpecials #Brunch #SandwichLovers #FoodieFinds
Busy weekend here at Rougham Estate with the @artworkseast exhibition - open every day 10-4 until 28 September (free entry) and the @the_roaming_sauna_ holding sauna appointments for private or group sessions.
Couple the visit with a trip to the @roughamestateshop and pick up some autumn vibes. Then refresh at Roots Cafe!
Perfect weekend! What more could you want?
#rootscafe #roughamestate #weekenvibes #thegardenroonshop #theroamingsauna #artworks
This Saturday Artworks is opening at Blackthorpe Barn on the Rougham Estate.🎉
It’s the 25th anniversary of @artworkseast - one of East Anglia’s leading artist collectives.
This year’s show features all new work, some shown here, from bold abstracts and dramatic landscapes to intricate botanical illustrations, sculpture, ceramics, portraiture and more.
Each day there is a chance to meet artists and to take part in the popular Mini Artworks Prize Draw, supporting East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) @eachhospices and the Artworks Schools Programme.
📅 13-28 September 2025, 10am - 4pm
🎟️ Free entry
🚗Plenty of free parking
📍Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate, Bury St Edmunds IP30 9HZ
☕️Roots Café open every day, just next door
More details from @artworkseast website and our website.
Come along and be inspired!
#Artworkseast #roughamestate #burystedmunds #suffolkart #suffolkartist #suffolkartists
Tag us @RoughamEstate
