The Wishmas Tree: How One Pub Turned A Christmas Tree Into A Beacon Of Hope

A couple of years ago our village local The Tupton Tap was blessed with a new Landlady and Landlord - Jo & Richard. Those in the know realise where the blessing is!!

All of us at Really Green Smart Garden Company and Chesterfield Christmas Trees were immediately aware that Jo and Richard intended putting community, friendship, fun and more than a few cracking real ales back in the hands of the locals.

When we approached them about the possibility of supplying them with one of our freshly cut Christmas trees there was no hesitation in saying Yes!

…. Even though they had been jettisoned in just three weeks before Christmas and without any decorations for the tree. The business challenges they faced were aplenty anyway, so we would have accepted them declining our initial request.

But then we turned the minor details into a great big opportunity. Jo, Richard and myself came up with the “Wishmas Tree”, putting the locals at the centre of a fundraising initiative that is in its third year in 2025.

Jo and Richard asked the locals to bring a bauble, a wish card, or a decoration for the tree. However, before they could hang it on the tree, the princely sum of £1 was required and that £1 donation went directly to the Ashgate Hospice.

They even had a prize for the best decoration…. No comment as to how competitive that can get.

The point is though that Jo and Richard have made it fun and accessible to everyone in our village local, the regulars, the families, the early drinkers, the evening crew, the sports fans and the thriving quizzers. In doing so with this simple format we will this year top £1000 raised through the “Wishmas Tree.”

And to further supplement this, Jo and Richard have introduced the “Quizmas Fund.” The thriving quiz scene at The Tupton Tap are now paying double the usual entry fee, for the month of December, half of which will go to the Ashgate Hospice.

But it doesn’t stop there …..

This year as the lights are turned on, our local Scout group will sing Christmas Carols whilst holding donation buckets, ready for coins to rattle, or possibly they may get money that rustles!

We think that every community needs a local, with a Jo and Richard! But you’re not getting ours!!

For us this was about how that joy, love, peace and season of Goodwill can actually help others and even be extended out…..

Can you imagine what could be achieved if this could be rolled out across the region?

Think we’ve hit on something there, hey Jo & Richard!