University and Hospiscare to recycle Christmas trees

The University of Exeter and Hospiscare will team up to recycle Christmas trees and support terminally ill people and their families.

Hospiscare’s vans will collect trees from Exeter, Exminster and Cranbrook between 11-17 January, in exchange for a £10 donation.

Trees will then be taken to the University’s Streatham Campus to be chipped by the grounds team, with help from Bicton College agriculture students.

Chippings will be given to the Avanti Hall School (previously the Steiner Academy) or used to improve local footpaths.

The scheme raised £5,000 last Christmas, and organisers hope to double that figure this time.

“We are very grateful to the University of Exeter for agreeing to dispose of the trees our volunteers will be collecting in January,” said Louise Beeken, Head of Fundraising at Hospiscare.

“This support means we can pick up twice as many trees as last year, and from a larger area, and all the money raised will help to fund our care of terminally ill patients across Exeter, Mid and East Devon.

“It’s great also that the chippings from the trees will be used in other projects the University are helping with, a win-win all round!”

Anthony Cockell, Deputy Grounds Operations Manager at the University of Exeter, said: “The University grounds team feel privileged to support the service Hospiscare provide to our community in Devon.

“We will be helping recycle all materials from their Christmas tree collection recycling scheme.

“I must thank Bill Johnston, Head of Machinery Imports at TH White and his Jensen wood chippers for making this event possible.

“It has brought a great opportunity to Bicton College students who will join us on the day and broaden their industry experience.

“The finished woodchip will be shared with Avanti Hall School for their play area as well as the public footpaths of Lower Hoopern Valley.

“It will be a great effort by all and I am very much looking forward to it.”

To find out more, visit www.hospiscare.co.uk/recycle-your-christmas-tree