Van owners needed for tree recycling

Bosses at the Pilgrims Hospice are running their annual Christmas tree recycling service again next week.

The charity is calling on van owners in Ashford and Tenterden to help with the campaign as they look for volunteers to help collect the trees.

Collections will run from 8am to 4pm on Saturday, January 13 and Sunday, January 14.

The hospice’s Victoria Friar said: “The more crews and vans we have, the more trees we can collect, the more money we can raise for our patients.

“Last year’s tree recycling was a huge success. We raised more than £16,000 through donations people chose to make in return for Pilgrims Hospice collecting their Christmas trees. We hope, with the help of residents, to make this one even better.”

Members of the Tuesdays Choir from Tenterden have thrown their support behind the campaign.

Mrs Friar said: “We have a team of 70 volunteers ready to collect trees from homes all across the borough including the villages around Ashford and Tenterden. This year Ashford Vineyard has kindly offered the use of its warehouse which is close to the council’s recycling centre. This will give the collection teams a very welcome place to warm up and refuel throughout the day.

“For homes nearer to Ashford our vans will zip backwards and forwards between homes and the recycling centre on Cobbs Wood. However, in Tenterden it is done a little differently – Waitrose will bring a 40-ton lorry to the town so at the end of the day one very large load is taken to be recycled. In return for a chosen donation to our charity, local residents can register their tree easily online.”

To register your tree for collection, visit www. pilgrimshospices.org/treecycling, call 01233 504111 or email victoria. friar@pilgrimshospices.org

Members of the Tuesdays Choir from Tenterden are taking part in the Pilgrims Hospice Christmas tree recycling