Pilgrims Hospices’ Christmas Tree Recycling campaign raises a record breaking £84,000 for end-of-life care
Pilgrims Hospices’ annual Tree Recycling campaign has once again been a tree-mendous success, giving more than 4,600 Christmas trees a second life and raising over £84,000 to help provide specialist end-of-life care for local people across east Kent.
Over the weekend, volunteers were out in force across Canterbury, Thanet, and Ashford, collecting trees directly from doorsteps. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the community, local residents, and businesses, this year’s total has surpassed expectations – helping to fund vital care for patients and their families.
More than 125 incredible volunteers took part, supported by local businesses who kindly donated their time, vans, and equipment free of charge. Pilgrims staff also worked throughout the weekend to make sure collections ran smoothly and efficiently.
At the Canterbury hospice site, chipping services were once again kindly donated by the father-and-son team at D. Parr Tree Surgeons, who have a personal connection to the hospice’s care.
Sue Sharp, Director of Marketing and Income Generation at Pilgrims Hospices, said:
“This campaign is all about community spirit – turning festive trees into vital care for families in east Kent. Every tree collected helps fund essential hospice services, and we couldn’t do it without our incredible volunteers, supporters, and local businesses.”
All collected trees were processed in an environmentally friendly way – mapped for the most efficient routes, chipped, and reused for landscaping, composting, and even in the hospice’s own gardens.
Since the campaign began in Ashford 14 years ago, over 25,000 trees have been collected and more than £450,000 raised for Pilgrims Hospices.
It’s a brilliant way for communities to recycle, celebrate, and make a difference – one tree at a time!
