A team of 67 volunteers spent the weekend collecting more than 1,800 trees in the biggest ever Christmas Tree Collection organised by Trinity Hospice.
The event, which was sponsored by Easthams Solicitors, Ameon and Slater Gordon, raises money for the hospice, and this year raised a record £23,000.
Corporate Partnerships Manager, Janet Atkins, said: “Once again we are absolutely thrilled with how the weekend went. We were really lucky with the weather, and we had such wonderful volunteers who worked so hard, some over both the days, to collect Christmas trees from across the Fylde coast.
“Here at the hospice, we worked hard to make sure our volunteers were safe at all times, and we’re thankful to everyone who made a donation and organised a collection for having their trees outside their homes in good time for us to pick them up.
“Huge thanks goes to our sponsors, as well as to Blackpool Council and Fylde Council, whose help and organisation both in the run up to the event and over the weekend itself we just couldn’t do without – particularly Gareth Matthews from Fylde Council who, on top of organising the depot and base, also collected trees over the weekend.
“We are just overwhelmed with the support we have seen from our community, not only for our annual tree collection but throughout the whole pandemic. The fact that this has been our best year to date for donations shows that people living in Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde really are behind their local hospice. With their continued support, we can be there for everyone who needs us, through Covid and beyond.”
Leader of the Council, Cllr Karen Buckley commented: “I was delighted to join the volunteers over the weekend to fill our trailer with trees from addresses in and around Ansdell going back and forth to drop them off at North Beach Car Park in St Annes. The residents were thrilled to be part of the scheme knowing that their donations were helping Trinity and their used trees were being recycled. Thanks to all the staff and volunteers for their support again this year.
“The Christmas trees collected will now be planted on St Annes beach as part of the ongoing sand dunes restoration project. The trees help reduce the erosion of the dunes that provide a unique habitat for many plants and animals and also act as an effective soft sea defence for the local community.”
