Tree-riffic fundraiser will see over 1,000 Christmas trees recycled

Friday 29 December 2017

Over 5,000 Christmas trees were sold in Jersey this year – and one charity is making it its mission to recycle as many of those as possible.

Jersey Hospice Care’s annual Christmas Tree Collection and Recycling scheme is halfway through its festive fundraising campaign and has so far seen 1,260 islanders sign up for their trees to be scrapped in an environmentally friendly way.

The sign-ups have so far secured the charity over £20,000 – and mean that more than 30% of the island’s Christmas trees will be recycled.

But the palliative care charity is looking to collect many more in a bid to break last year’s total of £33,000. They’re working alongside the Aztec Group, who are sponsoring the initiative, to make that a reality.

Jersey Hospice cares for around 450 people a year with life-limiting conditions – an endeavour that costs around £14,600 to run every day. 

A donation of as little as £12 can pay for a community nurse’s petrol for one week, while £26 could see one child supported through bereavement with a series of special books. £45, meanwhile, could secure a much-needed physiotherapy session for a patient to help relieve their pain.

Pictured: Chris Le Marquand, scheme co-ordinator, Joanna Hewlett, Head of HR Aztec Group, Sacha Patel, Income Generation Manager at Jersey Hospice Care, Trevor Parker, scheme co-ordinator and Leonah Duffy, Trainee Marketing Executive at the Aztec Group (left to right).

Jersey Hospice Chief Executive Emelita Robbins described the annual scheme as a “wonderful fundraiser” for her charity.

“Last year’s scheme raised over £33,000, that covered the cost of our Day Hospice services for a month. The scheme allows everyone who makes a donation to recycle their Christmas tree in a way that is environmentally sound. It is anticipated that over 3,000 trees will be collected from households and businesses over a busy four days in January and turned into soil improver to benefit gardens across Jersey,” she said.

“We couldn’t do this without the help of an army of volunteers who collect the Christmas trees. In addition, the scheme receives fantastic support from our generous sponsors the Aztec Group, with additional support from Jersey Post, Jersey Evening Post and Webreality and a range of other local businesses.”

Joanna Hewlett, Aztec Group’s Head of HR, added that the initiative was an “amazing opportunity to give back to our local community in Jersey.” 

She commented: “We’ve been sponsoring the initiative since 2014 and being able to do it again this year means so much to us. The services provided by Jersey Hospice Care are astounding and we’re proud to be able to support them with this fundraising campaign and witness the generosity of islanders.”