Tree-mendous recycling offer
A CHARITY is encouraging people to take advantage of a special Christmas tree recycling service this year, which will not only help take away the headache of disposing of Christmas trees once the festivities are over, but will also raise money for local people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.
National charity, JustHelping, is organising Christmas tree collections in local areas to raise money for charities including St Ann’s Hospice.
The collections have been run by community volunteers, sponsors and donors for more than nine years.
The 2021 Christmas tree collection raised more than £50,000 for the patients and families St Ann’s Hospice supports.
St Ann’s provides care for people with lifelimiting illnesses from its sites in Heald Green and Little Hulton, and a wide range of community and outreach services.
Trees will be collected by volunteers between January 13 and 16, and trees can be registered at www.charity xmastree collection.com along with a voluntary donation.
The real Christmas trees are shredded into chippings and recycled to be used locally in parks and sports clubs.
Fiona Cosgrove from JustHelping said: “It’s really exciting that we’ve been able to raise such a huge amount of money for charities like St Ann’s in previous years, and we’re hoping we can do even better this time around.
“It’s fantastic that we’re able to bring people together to raise money for such fabulous causes, and of course, the fact that the trees we collect are recycled is also good for the environment – not to mention that it takes away the headache of disposing of the tree from local people too.”
The tree collections will be taking place in the postcode areas SK1, SK2, SK3, SK4, SK5, SK6, SK7, SK8 and M20, M21, M22, M23, M27, M28, M30, M32, M33, M41, M44.
Those wishing to have their tree collected can sign up online.
Rachel McMillan, chief executive of St Ann’s, said: “We were blown away to receive £50,000 in our 50th year from the 2021 tree collections, which shows the amazing impact of community spirit. Thank you.”