IT was all systems go at the Devil’s Punch Bowl in the run-up to Christmas, with a host of new activities on offer from the National Trust during the month of December.

The trust’s Devil’s Punch Bowl Cafe, on Hindhead Common, was transformed into Mrs Santa’s Swiss cabin and served up Swiss-influenced festive food and drink to get everyone in the mood. It was also the starting point for children to collect the clues for the trail to find Santa’s missing reindeer, and to enjoy donkey rides as well as travelling on Santa’s sleigh and listening to the Christmas choir.

New cafe manager Jane Clements said: “It was fabulous. The thing I enjoyed most was that everyone wanted to be here, both visitors and volunteers.

“It was very well thought out and the children all loved it.

“The reindeer trail organised by the National Trust rangers has been on offer on all three weekends before Christmas, the festive food and drink has been served daily throughout the month and the donkey and sleigh rides took place on Saturday and Sunday.

“We had 300 people here for the rides on Saturday alone.”

Trust rangers reported a big turnout for the second year they had mounted a “Harvest your own Christmas tree” event at the Devil’s Punch Bowl, which took place on the three Saturdays leading up to the big day on December 25.

An impressive £3,500 was raised from the tree-cutting events and the money will be used to the benefit of National Trust-owned land at Hindhead.