The eco-friendly fundraising initiative saw Sue Ryder’s friendly and reliable volunteers - including teams from local businesses - collect hundreds of real Christmas trees straight from front doors, gardens and driveways, with thousands of pounds raised through optional donations. Thanks to the generosity of residents, the funds will support Sue Ryder’s palliative and bereavement care.
Some 1,382 trees were collected through the Sue Ryder Treecycling Bedfordshire and borders scheme, raising £21.035, to help Sue Ryder reach more people when they really need it, so no one is left to die or grieve alone.
Real Christmas trees are 100% recyclable, and those collected locally will be turned into chippings, which will be used by farms for their goats and pigs to enjoy and for woodland pathways at Jordans MIll. By taking part in the Christmas Treecycling scheme, Bedfordshire and borders residents who signed up to the scheme have not only supported the important work that Sue Ryder does but have also supported the environment.
Nick Burr, Senior Community Fundraiser at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, shared his gratitude: “We want to say an enormous thank you to everyone who signed up and helped our Christmas Treecycling scheme flourish. By choosing to recycle your real tree with an optional donation to Sue Ryder, your Christmas tree has become the gift of expert care, advice and compassion for those living with serious illness, death and grief. Your participation helps us be there for more people during the most challenging times of their lives.
"The success of the Sue Ryder Christmas Treecycling scheme relies entirely on the power of volunteers. Thank you to all the businesses and individuals who helped with the collections: Autoglass, Bedford Battery, Welch Group, Garys Gardening Services, HBC Logistics, Kite Utility, M & DH Insurance, Amey, Mint Construction, Paul Brown Garden Maintenance, Will Colebrook Landscaping, Michael Scott, Skanska, Walters, Nightingale Farm, New Farm, Growing Beds, Jordans Mill and Bartlett Tree Services.
“Around 78 volunteers offered their time to support the collections, making this incredible fundraising achievement possible.”
Last year Sue Ryder provided palliative and bereavement care to thousands of families across the country, including those supported by our hospice and community teams at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice. Sue Ryder's bereavement support includes an online community forum and new Grief Kind Spaces.
For more information on fundraising events, contact the fundraising team at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice at 01767 642424 or email: [email protected]
Discover more about Sue Ryder at www.sueryder.org
3. Contributed
The real Christmas trees have been turned into chippings, which will be used by farms for their goats and pigs to enjoy Photo: Submitted