Farleigh collects record number of Christmas trees for recycling in 3 days!

Our fundraising team visited homes and businesses in Braintree, Burnham, Chelmsford, Coggeshall, Danbury, Dunmow, Halstead, Kelvedon, Maldon, Southminster, South Woodham Ferrers, Stock, Witham and Writtle as well as the surrounding villages and areas to collect the trees from doorsteps.

We were helped by an army of over 100 volunteers in 57 vehicles who set off early each day in freezing temperatures to support their local hospice.

The trees were taken to a collection hub at Boreham where a team from Contour Landscapes shredded them into wood chippings to be used as bio mass fuel in boilers. A separate collection was organised by Burnham Rugby Club on the Dengie Peninsular with Maldon Council collecting in over 220 trees to be chipped and used on pathways.

Anyone registering a tree for collection could give a donation to Farleigh. We provide specialist hospice care and support, free of charge, to people in mid Essex who are affected by life-limiting illnesses and bereavement.

Debbie de Boltz, Farleigh’s Head of Fundraising, said, “It has a been a very cold and exhausting three days but absolutely amazing knowing how much money our treecycle has raised for the hospice. A huge thank-you to all of the amazing volunteers, companies, organisations, councils and my colleagues at Farleigh who have helped us to collect and recycle so many trees in such a short time.

“According to the Carbon Trust, chipping a Christmas tree to spread on the ground can reduce its carbon footprint by up to 80%. We are delighted that Farleigh’s tree recycling service is having such a positive impact on the environment, while raising a fantastic £70,000 which equates to 2,121 hours of specialist palliative nursing care – a truly remarkable achievement all due to our supportive community. ”