1,450 trees collected and £17,500 raised through St Wilfrid’s Christmas tree recycling scheme

Having teamed up with Chichester District Council and the Woodhorn Group, the recycled trees will now be used by the Woodhorn Group to create its range of Earth Cycle composts and topsoils, perhaps feeding the Christmas trees of the future.

The Bosham charity’s merry band of volunteers criss-crossed the county collecting 1,450 trees between January 6-20, in return for a donation to the hospice.

St Wilfrid’s Hospice chief executive Alison Moorey said: “A massive thank-you to the several dozen volunteers who helped us recycle over double the trees we collected last year.

“We’re so glad so many local residents embraced the scheme which was especially valued in lockdown, and we’re pleased to have been able to engage in a sociably distant way with the local community we proudly serve.”

St Wilfrid’s also thanked Panther Van Hire and 121 Systems for their help in making the scheme such as success, which has raised enough money to fund a ward bed for over a month or provide over 55 home visits by a community nurse.

Councillor Penny Plant, cabinet member for the environment and contract services at Chichester District Council, said: “We would like to thank everyone who recently supported the St Wilfrid’s Christmas Tree Recycling scheme.

“We are really pleased to have partnered with the charity to help our residents recycle as many trees as possible while also supporting a fantastic local cause that is very close to our hearts.

“Together, we have prevented over 1,450 trees going to general waste, helping to increase recycling and keeping our district greener for the future.”

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