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 11th anniversary since its inception in the Ashford Borough Council area, raising an incredible £171,635 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!

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.

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 at the local Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

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 and donated to an animal rescue centre. 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 1,680 hours of specialist nursing care.

Pilgrims Hospices Tree Recycling initiative is celebrating 11 years since its inception in the Ashford Borough Council area, raising in excess of £170,000 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 - 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 14th to 16th January 2023. 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 9th January 2023.

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

Bookings for Ashford Borough Council addresses have now closed

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 2nd January. Doorstep collections will take place from Friday 6th to Monday 9th January 2023. 

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.

Bookings for Canterbury City Council area addresses have now closed

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.

Registrations for the Faversham Drop Off Station have now closed

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 2nd January. Doorstep collections will take place from Friday 6th to Monday 9th January 2023. 

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.

Bookings for Thanet District Council area addresses have now closed

More fun festive ideas...

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