HOSPISCARE, the local care charity, has launched its annual Christmas Tree Recycling scheme to support end-of-life care across the heart of Devon. 

On Thursday, January 11, Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13, 2024, Hospiscare and a team of volunteers will be heading out in full force to collect and recycle Christmas trees in return for a donation to the local charity.

Collections will take place in Crediton, Exeter, Exmouth, Honiton, Tiverton, Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary, with a recommended donation of £15 per tree.

Hospiscare helpers with the tree collection last year.
Hospiscare helpers with the tree collection last year. (Hospiscare)

Hospiscare’s annual Christmas tree recycling scheme is supported by volunteers and local businesses, with last year’s collection raising an incredible £24,000. 

Donations will help ensure the charity can continue to provide its specialist services to local patients and their families living with terminal illness in Exeter, Mid and East Devon. 

Laura Robertson, Fundraising Projects Manager at Hospiscare, explains: “We are so grateful to our local community for coming together in support of our Christmas tree recycling scheme every year.

“The year 2024 is set to be challenging as we face a £2.5 million funding gap, which could force us to axe existing services, making fundraising more important than ever.

“After the festivities are over, leave the effort of getting rid of your Christmas tree to us and help raise much-needed funds to continue providing our services.”

This year’s collections will be supported by a range of local businesses, including Thrifty, Jurassic Tree Services and Coastal Recycling.

In 2023, a team from Cornwall Glass volunteered their time to support the scheme.

Simon Porterfield, Branch Manager at Cornwall Glass in Exeter, said: “Supporting a local charity is really important to us. End-of-life care could affect any one of us, at any point, and knowing what Hospiscare do, makes it such a worthy cause to be involved with.

“Christmas tree collecting is a fun way to know you are doing something to help… and trying to collect the tallest tree makes it competitive!”

One of the volunteer tree collectors.
One of the volunteer tree collectors. (Hospiscare)

If you are a van owner or driver and would like to volunteer to collect trees to support your local hospice, Hospiscare is seeking volunteers for the dates above.

Whether you can help on all dates or just one of the days, please email: [email protected] . 

Visit: www.hospiscare.co.uk/christmas-tree-recycling  to find out more and register your tree collection by January 7, 2024.