Welcome to the Pilgrims Hospices Christmas Tree Recycling fundraising campaign. Supporters can register real Christmas trees for a chosen donation and our friendly team of Pilgrims volunteers will collect and recycle your tree.

Pilgrims Hospices Tree Recycling initiative is celebrating its 12th anniversary since its inception in the Ashford Borough Council area, raising an incredible £229,426 for local hospice care in that time. In 2022, the initiative branched out to include the Canterbury City Council and Thanet District Council areas too with great success!

In January 2023, more than 3,150 trees were collected and in excess of £57,000 raised!

Tree Recycling Crews

When it comes to saying farewell to your festive fir, Pilgrims can help you enjoy a hassle-free end to the Christmas period with our environmentally-friendly service, that also raises vital funds for end-of-life care. Every tree that is collected in Ashford, Canterbury or Thanet, will help to care for people facing an incurable illness in our community.

Register your tree for collection today!

Help us to care for the planet, and our patients, one tree at a time.

Simply register your real Christmas tree for collection for a chosen donation and our friendly team of Pilgrims volunteers will then take your tree to be recycled.

Specialist Pilgrims Hospices nurses will be providing care and comfort, free of charge, to hundreds of families facing an incurable illness this festive season. Please give generously when booking online.

All trees for doorstep collections need to be pre-registered and we will be unable to accept any booking made after the closing deadlines.

How are the Christmas trees recycled?

After being collected by our volunteer elves and taken to the local Recycling Centre, with the support of Kent County Council and FCC Environment, the trees are taken to specialist recycling farms, Blaise Farm in West Malling and Hope Farm in Capel-le-Ferne. They are then composted within a covered building system and turned into two grades of compost, a 20mm grade used for agricultural purposes and 10mm grade used as a soil improver for general composting and landscaping uses within the local area. What's even better is that, whilst helping to support the charity, you will be reducing your environmental impact too. Some of our trees are also chipped and used for composts locally, whilst others are chipped at the hospices and used within the grounds. So, as you can see, your tree's onward journey is far more valuable than just being put out after Christmas, you are helping us to take care of the planet and our patients one tree at a time.

The last Christmas tree recycling campaign raised over
£
for local hospice care. Enough to pay for more than 2,280 hours of specialist nursing care.

Pilgrims Hospices Tree Recycling initiative is celebrating 12 years since its inception in the Ashford Borough Council area, raising in excess of £229,426 for local hospice care in this time. 

Due to popular demand, since 2021 we've branched out and are now able to recycle your real Christmas trees in areas of Canterbury and Thanet as well!

Kate Duddell - Head of Fundraising

The scheme works differently depending on your area, so please find the information relevant to you by clicking on the buttons below.

I live in...

Ashford Borough Council Area

Doorstep collections from Saturday 13th to Monday 15th January 2024. Teams of Pilgrims volunteer elves will do all the hard work for you by collecting your tree from your home address anywhere within the Ashford Borough Council area, and, in turn, you will be helping to support the vital end-of-life care of local people through your donation. Register your tree and donate by midnight on Monday 8th January 2024.

We will be collecting in the following areas:

  • Ashford
  • Tenterden
  • Charing
  • Wye
  • Appledore
  • Chilham
  • Surrounding villages within the Ashford Borough Council area

Check whether your address is in the Ashford Borough Area via this map

Registration for tree collections in the Ashford Borough Council area has now closed. No late registrations can be accepted.

Canterbury City Council Area

If you live within the Canterbury City Council area, our friendly team is able to collect your real Christmas tree from your household. Register your tree and donate by midnight on Monday 1st  January. Doorstep collections will take place from Friday 5th to Monday 8th January 2024. 

We will be collecting in the following areas:

  • Canterbury
  • Sturry
  • Chartham
  • Bridge
  • Herne Bay
  • Chestfield
  • Whitstable
  • Seasalter
  • Surrounding villages within the Canterbury City Council area

Check whether your address is in the Canterbury City Council area here!

Pilgrims volunteer elves will be collecting trees on specially-planned routes from households within the Canterbury City Council area. Once booked, the Pilgrims team will email you to confirm your registration, and also in the days prior to the collection with instructions for your tree.

Registration for tree collections in the Canterbury City Council area has now closed. No late registrations can be accepted.

Faversham Drop Off Station

If you live outside of the Canterbury City Council area, in areas such as Faversham or Hernehill, your tree can still be recycled by bringing it to Macknade, Faversham, at our designated drop off station. You can book your tree's slot at the drop off station by clicking here, or you can make a donation to Pilgrims Hospices on the day.

Online registrations for the Faversham Tree Drop-off Station at Macknade have now closed. However, you are welcome to take your real Christmas tree along and make a donation in person at the point of drop off during the following times: Saturday 6th Jan (9:00 - 16:00) or Sunday 7th Jan (10:00 - 16:00).

Thanet District Council Area

If you live within the Thanet District Council area, our friendly team is able to collect your real Christmas tree from outside your property. Register your tree and donate by midnight on Monday 1st January. Doorstep collections will take place from Friday 5th to Monday 8th January 2024. 

We will be collecting in the following areas:

  • Margate
  • Ramsgate
  • Broadstairs
  • Westgate-on-Sea
  • Birchington
  • St Nicholas-at-Wade
  • Minster
  • Surrounding villages within the Thanet District Council area

Check whether your address is in the Thanet District Council area here!

Pilgrims volunteer elves will be collecting trees on specially-planned routes from households. Once booked, the Pilgrims team will email you to confirm your registration, and also in the days prior to the collection with instructions for your tree.

Registration for tree collections in the Thanet District Council area has now closed. No late registrations can be accepted.

More fun festive ideas...

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