The charity’s Tree-cycle fundraising scheme, sponsored by Tree & Lawn Company, will be collecting pre-booked trees from towns and villages across Colchester and Tendring in return for a donation to St Helena Hospice.

Pre-registered real trees from homes and businesses in postcodes CO1-CO9 and CO11-CO16, will be collected for recycling by volunteers between Friday 10th and Monday 13th January 2025.

All donations made will help St Helena Hospice to provide compassionate care and support people across north east Essex who face incurable illness and bereavement.

Jo Clarke, public fundraising manager at St Helena Hospice, said:

“This year, we’re excited to expand our Christmas Tree-cycle to Harwich, as well as continuing to collect trees across the rest of Colchester and Tendring. This means we will be able to collect more trees and raise more money for St Helena Hospice, helping ensure we can be there for the people you love, when they need us.  

“We send as many as is requested to local animal sanctuaries for food and bedding, some are processed and recycled by Colchester and Tendring councils, and some are taken directly to a composting site where they can be used in Essex agriculture.

“We couldn’t do this without volunteers! We would love people to volunteer to help with collections by going out with drivers to load trees into vans, recycling the trees at centres, or even by lending us their vans, and help us spread some post-Christmas joy!”

Registration closes at midnight on Sunday 5th January 2025 and people in postcodes can beat the rush and register now for Tree-cycle at www.sthelena.org.uk/treecycle25 

To volunteer to be part of the Elf Squad, email St Helena’s fundraising team at fundraising@sthelena.org.uk or call 01206 931 468.