The Nordmann Firs are now decorated around the Hospice site, including in the SinglePoint office where nurses and call handlers work 24/7 answering calls or going out on rapid response visits; in the Joan Tomkins Centre where people visit for bereavement support and complementary therapies; in the Hospice canteen for people to enjoy while they have a meal; and in the Hospice inpatient unit so patients and families can experience Christmas together.

Tim Smith, owner of the family business on Straight Road in Boxted, said:

“Our family has been supporting St Helena Hospice for over 30 years and we are pleased to again this year. We like to support the Hospice as it is a wonderful asset to the area and they excel themselves for local people.

“We do what we can to help, including picking up trees in the New Year as part of their Tree-cycle fundraising scheme.”

Niamh Eve, Hospice matron, said:

“We look forward to the trees arriving at the Hospice because it means Christmas has officially arrived!

“The beautiful trees, generously donated by Fred Smith Christmas Trees, bring comfort to people staying with us in December as we try to make the atmosphere as homely as possible for patients and their visitors.”

The popular St Helena Hospice annual Christmas Tree-cycle, sponsored by Tree & Lawn Company, is now open for people to register their tree to be collected by volunteers in the New Year for recycling, in exchange for a donation to the charity. 

Volunteers, including Fred Smith Christmas Trees, will be out across Colchester and the surrounding areas and some parts of the Tendring area, on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th January 2024 to collect pre-registered real Christmas trees from the postcode areas of CO1 to CO9, CO11 and CO13 to CO16.

To register your festive tree to be collected for recycling in this year’s Christmas Tree-cycle initiative, go to www.sthelena.org.uk/treecycle24 and donate to St Helena Hospice.