Tree-mendous fundraiser turns Christmas conifers into compost

Saturday 04 January 2020

Volunteers are gearing up to start collecting Christmas trees around the island as part of a tree-rific charity scheme that sees the conifers turned into compost for the benefit of local gardens and farmland.

Jersey Hospice Care's Christmas Tree Collection initiative is an environmentally friendly way for people to recycle their real tree in the New Year while supporting the charity's services.

The recycling fundraising scheme, which is entirely run by volunteers, was first launched in 2005 by Trevor Parker. Since then, the initiative has raised more than £300,000 in aid of Jersey Hospice Care.

Last year alone, more than 2,150 trees were collected by over 60 volunteers, raising a record-breaking £35,808.  

Pictured: The scheme helped recycle 2,150 trees in 2019.

"This initiative is a fantastic way for us to give back to the community that supports us so generously while also raising money for Jersey Hospice Care for the year ahead," Katrina Hancock, Income Generation Director at Jersey Hospice Care, said.

"It is a great example of the difference we can make when people come together and, with our team of more than 30 volunteers, we hope to break last year’s record number of tree collections."

Pictured: The scheme is run entirely by volunteers.

In addition to raising funds for Jersey Hospice, the scheme is also beneficial for the environment. Volunteers collect Christmas trees from across the island, helping eliminate over 2,000 individual car journeys to the green waste site. They then deliver them to the green waste recycling facilities at La Collette where they are turned into soil improver for local gardens and farmland.

As a result, Harvey Mitchell, Director of Mitchell Building Contractors, said sponsoring the scheme means supporting both the charity and the island as a whole.

“The Christmas Tree Collection Scheme is such an amazing event as it raises money for such a worthy cause whilst also making a positive impact on the environment," he added.

Pictured: Jersey Post helps volunteers plan their route for the collection.

Jersey Post also supports the scheme by helping volunteers plan their routes around the island while Webreality provides the website technology free of charge every year.

“The annual Christmas tree collection is one of, if not the biggest, fundraising events organised by Jersey Hospice Care," Niall McClure, Managing Director, Postal and Logistics at Jersey Post, said. 

"Jersey Post is delighted to support this event by deploying our route planning technology to provide the dozens of volunteer collectors with routes and maps to assist them in their task."

Pictured: Last year, the recycling fundraising initiative raised £35,808 for Jersey Hospice Care.

"The number of people registering to have their trees collected is growing every year and we are pleased to be able to help make sure collections all happens as efficiently as possible," Mr McClure added. 

"It is gratifying to know that the funds raised through this event go to such a worthy cause.”

“The Jersey Hospice Care Christmas Tree Collection scheme is a brilliant all-round winner that deserves the support of every real Christmas tree buyer in Jersey," Tom Witherington, Technical Director at Webreality, added.

Pictured: Collections will start in businesses on Monday.

Islanders wishing to have their tree collected from their homes and recycled can register by filling in an online form until midnight on Wednesday 8 January. 

Business collections will take place on 6 and 7 January, while home/residential collections will take place on 11 and 12 January 2020.