A CHARITY Christmas tree collection service in Warwickshire is hoping for yet another bumper year.
The annual collection of real Christmas trees is organised by Pass The Smile with The Myton Hospices. In return for a donation, volunteers will collect and recycle real trees. The 2024 collection will take place over the weekend of Friday January 12 to Sunday January 14.
Launched in 2020, the project has now raised over £100,000 in funds which help both local charities to pursue their work and support communities.
January 2023 was a bumper year for the collection. Over 3,300 trees were collected, raising £45,750. And a record number of volunteers participated,
Having expanded from their initial focus on Coventry, the scheme now gathers trees from further into Warwickshire, including Nuneaton, Rugby and Stratford.
Co-organiser, Pass The Smile’s Scott Crowther was overwhelmed by the success in January 2023.
He said: “We are always humbled by the support from homes and businesses. Every year they surpass our expectations – from volunteers to sponsors and everyone who registered a tree for collection. It is incredibly rewarding to know that the effort we all put in is recognised in the remarkable amounts we have raised.”
Charlotte Ingram from The Myton Hospices added: “It’s hard to believe we are coming into the fifth year of working in partnership with Pass The Smile and Just Helping to organise the Charity Christmas Tree Collection. It has gone from strength to strength and we are looking forward to expanding further and raising even more vital funds this year. We are truly grateful to everyone who supports the collections through vans, volunteers, and donations. Every penny raised really does make a big difference to our patients and their families, and that’s all thanks to you.”
Once collected, trees are transported to Russells Garden Centre in Baginton, where they are shredded and used to restock paths in their Quarry Gardens and maze.
Bookings for tree collections will open on November 15 at www.just-helping.org.uk/register-tree
