Hospice launches Christmas recycling collection to support patient care

The Barnsley Hospice ‘Treecycle’ fundraiser will return once again on Sunday 7 January 2024, collecting and recycling real Christmas trees from around the borough in exchange for a donation to the hospice. 

According to Christmas Tree World, the first Sunday in Advent, which was December 3 this year, is the best date to get your Christmas tree. With many people now anticipated to have purchased their tree, the hospice is here to help dispose of it in the New Year.

The hospice’s Christmas tree collection service has been running for over five years, raising thousands for the hospice over this time. Once booked in for a collection, Barnsley residents are asked to leave their tree(s) outside their address on the evening of Saturday 6 January, and volunteer drivers will collect them throughout Sunday 7 January. 

Importantly, the Treecycle presents a sustainable way to dispose of real Christmas trees, in line with the hospice’s commitment to working in an environmentally conscious way. According to Barnsley Hospice’s fundraising manager, Mike Pastor, it’s also a great way for people to save themselves from the stress of disposing of their Christmas tree once the festivities are over. 

“We’re really pleased that our Treecycle offers a way for people to support the hospice, whilst saving themselves the hassle of finding pine needles in their car well into the New Year!

“We hope that this year will be our biggest Treecycle to date, and every tree collected and donation made will help us to support local families and continue to offer the patient care we have been proud to provide for nearly 30 years.”

The hospice has teamed up with four local businesses, who will volunteer their time and services to help with the collections. Colleagues from Rapid Response Telecoms, Clearance and Clean Up and Countrywide Healthcare will volunteer their time to collect the trees on Sunday 7 January. S Thompson Tree Services will provide their services voluntarily to chip the trees, which will be used for horticultural purposes. 

Dominic Wood, Managing Director at Rapid Response Telecoms, said: “As a business firmly rooted within the Barnsley area, so many of our colleagues, friends and family have benefited from the services and support Barnsley Hospice offers, so we jumped at the opportunity to support them.”

Collections will take place within the district’s postcode boundaries – S36, S63, S70, S71, S72, S73, S74 and S75 – and the hospice asks for a minimum donation of £12 per tree to support patient care. Any donations over this amount are greatly appreciated by the hospice and will help them care for the people of Barnsley when they need them the most. 

Find out more and book your collection here.