Trinity Hospice’s annual tree collection has raised an incredible £37,000 for the charity. Over the weekend, a total of 84 volunteers visited homes across the Fylde coast collecting Christmas Trees for recycling.

With collections taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 2,070 trees were collected and delivered to James Andrew Tree Care at the HASSRA Fylde Community Pavilion in Thornton, where they were chipped for the allotment, the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Bristol Avenue, Bispham, SUEZ Recycling Centre on Ashworth Road, Blackpool and North Beach Car Park in St Annes ahead of the annual tree planting campaign to restore the sand dunes.

For each tree collected, a donation was made to the hospice.

This year’s collection has raised more money than ever, with the total amount donated enough to run the Trinity’s Hospice at Home service for over three weeks, supporting patients and their loved ones at home during the night, when other services are closed.

The hospice’s Community & Corporate Fundraising Manager, Joanne Fowler, said: “Once again, our team of volunteers and supporters have done an incredible job collecting Christmas trees from across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, making this our biggest collection yet! And by doing so, they have helped to raise a phenomenal amount for local hospice care.

“Our team of amazing volunteers worked so hard, braving early morning and freezing temperatures to visit homes from Kirkham to Lytham, Blackpool to Fleetwood – the very same communities where our expert care and support is provided freely, all day, every day.

“Our Hospice at Home service provides vital access to hospice care to our patients and their families during stressful moments at night, when other help and support is not available and saving an unwanted and unnecessary trip to hospital.

“To have raised enough money to fund three whole weeks of this amazing service is just fantastic.

“This annual scheme means so much to us; not only are we providing a service for our local communities, but the donations mean we’re also providing a vital service to local families who need hospice care. Plus we’re doing our bit to help the environment at this time of year.

“A huge thank you to everyone who booked their Christmas tree for collection, making a generous donation while doing so, and our wonderful team of dedicated and passionate volunteers who made this collection happen.

“Thanks also to our event sponsors, Eastham’s Solicitors and Ameon as well as Blackpool Council and Fylde Council.”