Crop of Christmas trees leads to thousands for charity

A crop of Christmas trees has raised much-needed funds for a local hospice.

In a break from their usual activities, St Nicholas Hospice Care’s house clearance team had a busy start to the New Year thanks to their Christmas tree recycling service.

The team had their hands full as they picked up more than 800 trees from homes across the Bury St Edmunds, Thetford, Haverhill, Mildenhall areas and surrounding villages.

Staff spent time last week collecting old trees from people’s doorsteps with residents, if they would like to, making a donation for the service, which saved them a trip to the tip.

Through donations, some of which included Gift Aid, the team were able to raise more than £3,000 for the hospice, which provides care, and support for those living with dying, death and grief.

Darren Devine, the hospice’s house clearance and retail support manager, said: “This year’s collection has gone really well. We have been very busy, but to have collected more than 800 trees is amazing, and it has raised a great amount for the hospice. Each year the service seems to get even more popular this year we were fully booked, and we are already hopeful that 2020’s will be even bigger, so booking early will be a must.

“A big thank you must go to Culford Waste for once again supporting the initiative and offering to recycle the trees free of charge.”

All the trees, which were collected, the biggest estimated to be around 15ft high, were taken to Culford Waste, where thanks to the firm’s generosity they were recycled at no charge to the hospice. Once they have been shredded, the trees will be turned into compost.

Graeme Spittle, one of the directors at Culford Waste, said: “We are so pleased that we have once again been able to support the hospice’s tree collection. For us it is a way of giving back, and it’s great to have seen the service grow.”

Following their festive clean-up efforts the house clearance team will be returning to their day-to-day activities. If you are interested in the service you can call 01284 747622 to book a free quotation or email houseclearance@stnh.org.uk.

Pictured above are members of the hospice’s house clearance team with Justin and Graeme Spittle having dropped off trees at Culford Waste to be recycled.