Here at St. John’s Garden Centre, we pride ourselves on creating magical moments for families during the festive season from buying a fresh Christmas tree and picking special decorations in-store, to wandering through the magic of winter Jungleland and attending Santa’s arrival. This year, we’re thrilled to have collaborated with the talented T-Level Business Management and Administration students from Petroc College to make this Christmas the most magical yet. Their hard work, creativity, and dedication played a key role in making our 2024 Santa’s arrival event and subsequent festivities truly unforgettable.
On November 29th, Santa made his grand entrance to St. John’s Garden Centre, travelling through Barnstaple on a horse-drawn cart in a one-of-a-kind sleigh and arrival at the entrance of our Barnstaple store at 6.30pm. This much-loved annual tradition was elevated this year, thanks to the Petroc students who took charge of event planning. Families were treated to a magical evening featuring entertainment such as the Snow Queen, Captain Coconut, Merlin from Britain’s Got Talent, face painting, and a heartfelt opportunity to add wishes to the Christmas tree.
From logistics to marketing, decorations to entertainment, the students were involved in every aspect of the project. Course leader Joanne Goodreid highlighted the importance of their involvement, noting, “When I approached St. John’s about the possibility of my students supporting them with a project, I never imagined they would be so involved. They took ownership from the beginning, and supporting a local business that many of them visited as children made the project especially meaningful.”
The Petroc T-Level students brought fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and teamwork to the project, ensuring its success. They designed posters, researched and set up an online booking system, created festive social media campaigns, and even helped revise Santa’s script. They were involved from the early days of planning where we held in-person meetings at the college and in the centres, right through to build of winter Jungleland and Santa’s arrival itself, selling teas and treats and ensuring the logistics ran smoothly with hundreds of people watching on.
Reflecting on the experience, student Anosh Kavalakkal Antony shared, “During our involvement, I witnessed how teamwork impacts a project. Each team member had specific tasks, and working collaboratively allowed us to meet targets efficiently. I also learned a great deal about social media strategies and customer engagement, which are essential for successful events like this.”
Anosh added that the real-world experience gained from working on the project not only boosted his confidence but also complemented his college coursework, helping him develop practical skills essential for the business world.
The excitement didn’t end with Santa’s arrival. The festivities continued the following weekend with the opening of our Santa’s Grotto, beautifully designed to take families on a magical journey through a winter-themed Jungleland. The grotto, featuring festive animals, glittering lights, and enchanting winter scenery, has been thoughtfully planned to create unforgettable memories for children.
To manage the high demand for Santa visits which draw several hundreds of visitors every year, the students developed an online booking system to streamline the process, avoid hours of queuing and ensure every child gets their special moment with Santa. Each young visitor receives a thoughtful gift and a Christmas tree seedling to plant and nurture at home.
The collaboration between us here at St. John’s Garden Centre and Petroc College highlights the value of working together to support the local community. Mark Toon, one of St. John’s owners remarked, “Christmas is always a special time at St. John’s, and our tradition of hosting family-oriented events continues to grow. This year’s partnership with Petroc students has been exceptional, and we’re proud to have worked alongside such talented young individuals.”
By giving students ownership of the project, St. John’s not only benefited from their innovative ideas but also provided them with invaluable hands-on experience. From event coordination to marketing execution, the students learned the importance of communication, teamwork, and customer-centric thinking—key skills that will serve them well in their future careers.
As Santa continues to welcome families to his grotto every day from December 7th through Christmas Eve in 2024, the success of this year’s festive events is a testament to the power of collaboration. The partnership between St. John’s Garden Centre and Petroc College has not only delivered joy to the local community but also empowered the next generation of business professionals to develop their skills in a meaningful way.
To book your child’s visit to Santa’s Grotto and experience the magic for yourself, visit Santa’s booking page.
A huge thank you to the incredible Petroc T-Level Business students for their hard work, and here’s to many more successful collaborations in the future.