On Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th January, flocks of volunteers will be collecting more than a thousand real Christmas trees for recycling. In return for a minimum suggested donation of £10, trees will be collected by volunteers and local businesses to be recycled into compost, mulch or bio-mass fuel.

Last year over 1,100 trees were collected in selected postcode areas in Birmingham, turning them into £15,500 worth of care and support for local families living with a terminal illness. This year, the Hospice hopes to collect even more trees covering postcode areas B91 and B92 as well as B13, B14, B15, B17, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31, B38.

Ahead of the annual event, the Hospice is also looking for more volunteers – with or without a van – to join them leading up to and during the Treecycling weekend. Laura Rollason, Community Fundraiser at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “Our Treecycling scheme is a great way to save local people the stress and mess of getting rid of their Christmas tree and to raise money for a great cause. Just £10 could help to fund our patient transport for a day so by signing up to the scheme you will enable us to provide the best level of service possible to our patients and loved ones throughout the year.

“This year, with the help of our partners Fitzgerald Civil Engineering Contractors, A.W. Jenkinson Forest Products and the Birmingham City Council’s Parks Department and our army of volunteers, we are hoping to collect more trees than ever. Whether you volunteer your time or donate to the scheme, your support will really make a difference.”

The deadline to register your tree is Monday 9th January 2017.

If you live in one of the postcode areas and would like to book your collection, fill in the online form here or contact Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice on 0121 472 1191.