Visitors to a free weekend Christmas Market in Shrewsbury will be able to meet alpacas and the world’s smallest breed of sheep.

Love Plants, a specialist plants centre based at Salop Leisure, Emstrey, is hosting the festive market from 10am to 7pm on December 6  and 7 and from 10am to 4pm on December 8. There will be more than 50 stalls selling handmade crafts, Christmas gifts, decorations, food and drink, with free parking available. 

Included among the stallholders will be Frankly Farm Tours from Broseley who will give visitors the chance to meet alpacas and Ouessant Sheep, a rare breed originating from France and no bigger than a small dog. Three Ouessant Sheep will be attending the market on Friday, December 6 and three alpacas the following day.

Other exhibitors include Café on the Cop, Tim Moody from Drink Up Coffee and Lyn Evans Designs, all from Shrewsbury. Simons Perks, who used to have a Christmas Shop on the town’s Wyle Cop and Severn Hospice, Salop Leisure’s adopted charity for 2025, will also be exhibiting.

“To add to the Christmas Market atmosphere, we are going to light up Christmas trees and have festoon lights to guide people to the stalls, which will be located in Salop Leisure’s holiday home village,” said Love Plants manager Tom Pountney.

During the market, Love Plants is offering a 10% discount on freshly cut and potted Christmas trees over the three days. There will be a wreath making workshop on Saturday, December 7 from noon and places must be prebooked at £30.

Prices for freshly cut Christmas trees range from £35 to £50, £39.99 for slimline and £59.88 for potted, British grown Nordmann Fir and Fraser Fir trees. A free delivery service is offered within a 10-mile radius of Shrewsbury. Salop Leisure will donate £1 to Severn Hospice for each Christmas tree it sells. 

Love Plants will also be selling plants, wreaths, Christmas gifts and lights, following customer feedback.

The Christmas Market is just part of the Christmas Adventure experience. A Twilight Trail - a festive walk in a winter wonderland of twinkling lights and seasonal displays – runs at Love2Stay until December 22, from Wednesday to Sunday evenings starting at 4.30pm. 

Children can visit Santa and receive a gift in his grotto at Love2Stay until Monday, December 23 and dogs can also pay a visit to their very own Santa Paws this year between the same dates.

To add an extra sprinkling of Christmas magic, small children can enjoy Storytime with Mrs Claus from December 2 to 12. Visits to these attractions must be pre-booked at the Love2Stay website: https://www.love2stay.co.uk/christmas .

Love Coffee will be serving delicious festive afternoon teas between Monday, November 25 until December 23, from 12 noon until 3pm daily. Teas must by prebooked a day in advance at https://www.love-plants.co.uk/lovecoffee .

All customers who make a purchase at Salop Leisure, Love Coffee, Love Plants and Love2Stay until December 19 can enter a Christmas Cracker draw using a QR code, with a fantastic prize on offer. The winner will be announced on December 20.