A farming family on the Lizard Peninsula will be on our TV screens this evening as part of the Christmas special of a series following the lives of people living in Devon and Cornwall.

The Channel 4 programme Devon & Cornwall at Christmas makes a festive return to the two areas, showing that while they have been among Britain’s favourite summer holiday destinations for generations, there’s more to this south westerly corner of the British Isles than sunny beach days and clotted cream teas.

As the days grow shorter and the tourists head home, those who live and work here remain as busy as ever.

The programme's first stop this evening (Sunday) is to the Lizard Peninsula, to meet a farming family that are at their most hectic as Christmas approaches.

The Richards family have been farming in the area for more than 500 years, with James and his partner Sarah the latest generation of the Cornish dynasty to work the land here in both St Keverne and Ruan Minor.

Falmouth Packet:

James Richards and his fiancee Sarah will be appearing in the Christmas special of Devon and Cornwall. Pictures: Tregaminion Farm

But a decision by James’s father 40 years ago to diversify the business now means there’s no time to put their feet up and enjoy the festivities, as they run the UK's most south westerly Christmas tree farm.

The show will follow the family as they prepare their evergreen crop and their festive farm shop for the deluge of buyers looking for the perfect tree and the odd decoration or two.

The Richards’s trees also provide the seasonal centrepiece for many of the area’s towns and villages, and viewers will follow one extra special tree from delivery to lights switch on – bringing some seasonal sparkle at the end of a tough year.

Other Cornish residents visited in the TV special include Newquay father and son fishermen Martin and Jake Gilbert, who know that heading out to sea can be rough at this time of year, but wild seas are worth it as the catch they're seeking fetches high prices as Christmas approaches – lobster.

Falmouth Packet:

Newquay lobster fisherman Jake Gilbert and his dad Martin

A festive treat for many, the programme follows the Gilberts as they leave the safety of the shoreline to collect their sought-after catch and follow the lobsters as they go from sea, to shore, to shop in just a matter of hours.

And also in Newquay, the sea temperatures might have dropped since the summer but that doesn’t stop Cornwall’s band of dedicated surfers from heading into the winter waves.

Professional surfer Katy Beddoe and dad Keith often hit the empty beaches over the Christmas break as it’s a time when they can have the waves to themselves with not another soul in sight.

After a bracing couple of hours surfing the breaks, dad and daughter enjoy the solitude of the deserted beach while warming themselves with the most festive of drinks in this part of the world – mulled cider.

Devon and Cornwall at Christmas airs tonight, Sunday, December 20, at 9pm on Channel 4.