You can see why reindeer have become the stuff of folklore, as they trot across the field, with a gentle intelligence behind their dark brown eyes.

It's not a scene you expect to see on the edge of the Quantocks, but the reindeer paddock at Cobbs Cross Farm is likely to be a festive hit with young families over the next couple of weeks. It's not the only festive treat for visitors to the farm, near Goathurst – with 50 of its 400 acres devoted to growing Christmas trees, it has to be one of the most seasonal places in the region.

If you live in Bristol and don't have time for a jaunt down to the Quantocks, don't worry. In the run-up to Christmas, farmers John and Jan Hardwick are also selling their trees – and displaying their pet reindeer – at Sheepway, near Portishead.

Families visiting the reindeer will be invited to contribute to a collection being made in aid of The Children's Hospice, near Bristol.

"We bought the four reindeer earlier this year – two males and two females," Jan explains.

"We've kept all kinds of animals on the farm – from sheep to cows, and currently we have 20,000 free range organic chickens. But reindeer have been a new experience for us. We've had to learn as we've gone along. They're amazing creatures – rather intelligent."

Named after the family's Swedish friends, the reindeer Axl, Lars, Lotta and Jane, have taken well to Somerset life.

"We bought them from a specialist reindeer farm in Staffordshire," Jan says. "They have rutting seasons like any other deer, so we had to have the two boys castrated, or else they might have become a little aggressive. But we're hoping the two girls might be pregnant after being with other males at the Staffordshire farm."

The animals are considerably more domesticated than other kinds of deer, and trot over to Jan as soon as she enters their enclosure.

Surprisingly short and stocky, their legs are splayed as a defence against the snow and ice of their native Scandinavia. They also make an unusual noise – a gentle click from their hooves whenever they walk – a sound not dissimilar to sleigh bells.

"They are generally quite quiet, so the clicking of the hooves has evolved as a kind of warning system," Jan explains.

"When reindeer are asleep they can become covered by snow. The clicking hooves wake them up if other reindeer are nearby – which prevents them from being trampled."

The reindeer are the latest addition to the lively farm – which is a text book example of diversification.

The family, who have been at Cobbs Cross since the early 1970s, have mastered the art of evolving their farming techniques to keep up with the ever-changing rural economy. "When we took the place on it was a sheep farm," Jan explains. "But there just wasn't any money in sheep, so we made the decision early on to move over to other forms of farming – and in recent years we've gone organic.

"The Christmas trees are the only crop we have that isn't organic, because you do need to produce trees that look right if they're going in peoples' living rooms. But we keep them separate, so we can maintain the organic side of the rest of the farm.

"We grow all kinds of Christmas trees, and will cut thousands for sale this year – though as they take about eight years to grow, there's a constant cycle of planting. We even set aside part of the farm for an activity centre – with things like archery, high ropes, mountain boarding and raft-making.It's the nature of the farming industry these days, that you really do need to diversify as much as possible if your farm is to survive."

But the reindeer are here as a lure to festive punters.

"As Christmas draws near, two of the reindeer will be here at the farm, while the other two will be entertaining our customers at Sheepway, near Portishead," Jan explains. "People are always fascinated by them. After all, what could get you in the Christmas mood more than real, live reindeer."

Cobbs Cross Farm is just outside Goathurst on the Enmore road. To find the Sheepway stall, follow Christmas tree signs from the Portbury Hundred Road, at junction 19 of the M5. For more details, call the Cobbs Cross Christmas Tree farm on 01278 671945