Festive trees can stay evergreen

WITH more than 80 tonnes of improved soil generated from the trees collected every year, the collection scheme has twice been nominated as finalists in the National Recycling Awards and organisers are particularly proud of its green credentials.

The very first trees collected by Pete Chapman and his family were originally dumped at the local tip and in subsequent years were collected and stored and then burned at a fundraising bonfire the following November.

Reflecting the changing times, organisers now work with Cheshire East Council to ensure the trees are ground into mulch before being mixed into compost for recycling back into the soil.

“We’re very proud that our recycling efforts have been recognised nationally,” said Richard Raymond of the organising committee, “And our green message is a very strong part of our annual fundraising campaign.”

The thousands of collected trees are taken to a central depot site where three large mulching machines are hired in to slowly scrunch the trees into tiny, six-inch pieces. They are then taken to an industrial composting site and mixed with other waste before being ground into compost which can then be used as a soil improver on land across Cheshire.

The trees will be collected over the weekend of January 13 and 14, and registration for Christmas tree collection is now open at https://www. eastcheshirehospice.org. uk/echtrees.