Stroud District Council is backing the Longfield Community Hospice Christmas Tree Recycling campaign.
For a suggested minimum donation of £10, real Christmas trees will be collected at the end of the festive period and recycled.
This year, the Minchinhampton-based charity hopes to collect and recycle more trees than ever and raise more than £50,000, which could help fund more than 900 hours of Hospice at Home Care.
In previous years, as many as 2,900 households from across Stroud district, Cirencester and Gloucester have taken part in the scheme. Last year, Longfield raised nearly £50,000 for essential hospice care. This year, they’re aiming to beat last year’s record to provide free hospice care for life-limited people and their families, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The trees will be collected and taken to recycling sites across Gloucestershire, including Painswick Rococo Garden and Highfield Garden Centre, where they will be chipped and scattered on pathways and car parks, making it an eco-friendly way to dispose of your tree.
Cllr Chloe Turner, Chair of Stroud District Council Environment Committee said:
“I’m delighted that Stroud District Council is supporting this project once again, providing a useful service to residents while benefiting the brilliant work carried out by Longfield Hospice.”
“One of the priorities in our Council Plan is Environment and Climate Change. We have pledged to reduce the quantity of resources discarded as waste and minimise its environmental impact across the district. The Longfield Christmas Tree Recycling Campaign will contribute to those aims.”
Cllr Robin Layfield, Vice Chair of Stroud District Council Environment Committee said:
“We have a commitment in our Council Plan to increase recycling rates across the district and encourage local initiatives to ‘reduce, repair and recycle’. This is a fantastic project which supports our goals. Please register your tree for collection – it’s a convenient and charitable way of disposing of your tree sustainably and ensuring it doesn’t end up in landfill.”
All money raised helps to fund the hospice’s vital work supporting patients, families and carers across Gloucestershire.
To arrange collection of your tree, visit www.just-helping.org.uk/register-tree
The booking system for 2023/24 collections is now open until midnight 9 January 2024.
Alternatively, trees can be taken to the household waste and recycling centre. To book a slot visit www.gloucestershirerecycles.com
The fundraising team are also looking for volunteers, vans to collect Christmas trees, or tree chippers. To volunteer either with your time or if you have a van or chipper, then please contact the events team on 01483 886868 or email events@longfield.org.uk.
Find out more about Longfield at www.longfield.org.uk