For day five of our 12 Days of Christmas campaign, highlighting the work of East Lancashire Hospice, it's time to look at a service being offered which will raise funds and take the hassle out of disposing of your Christmas tree after the festive season ends

After the success of the S ‘ann’ ta’s Christmas tree collection back in January 2021, East Lancashire Hospice will be back on the road again on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th January 2022 collecting real Christmas trees to raise money for patient care.

The Christmas tree collection took place for the first time last year, with Ann Dobson a Creative and Support Therapy (CaST) member the driving force behind the initiative. Ann recognised that there was a shortage of companies offering a Christmas tree collection service in East Lancashire and identified the service as something the hospice could benefit from.

Ann said: “Christmas is coming and here at East Lancashire Hospice, the Christmas trees are being decorated, the carols are being chosen and yet again we are ready to collect your real Christmas trees on January the 8th and 9th. The community support last year was amazing and we would love your support again to help raise money for our patients. In return for your Christmas Tree Collection straight from your door, we ask for a small donation to take your tree for recycling.”

The scheme is supported by volunteers from the East Ribble District Freemasons who last year collected over 200 trees within the areas of Fernhurst, Oakdale, Lower Darwen, Darwen, Clitheroe and Whalley raising over £3,000 in total for the Hospice.

Due to the popularity of the collection additional areas have been added this year to include Oswaldtwistle and Mellor.

This year, the collection is sponsored by Blackburn-based vehicle hire company, Intack Self Drive who are donating free van hire to the hospice over the collection weekend.

Russell Kerr, Business Development Manager for Intack Self Drive said: “As a company we pride ourselves on supporting the local community and by supporting East Lancashire Hospice, our local charity, we know we are helping make a difference to people in Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.”

If you have a real Christmas tree up over the festive period, you can register for East Lancashire Hospice to collect it in the New Year with no fuss or mess. We ask for a minimum suggested donation of £6, all of which will go towards the provision of patient care.

Visit www.eastlancshospice.org.uk/Christmas-tree-collection to register your tree today, or call the fundraising team on (01254) 287011.