A CHARITY in Somerset has come up with an inventive way to raise money and help residents dispose of their Christmas trees.

St Margaret's Hospice has launched its Christmas Tree Collection Scheme on Saturday, January 15 2022, and Sunday, January 16.

Residents can book to have their Christmas trees collected, in exchange for a donation to the hospice.

Michelle Hancock, head of fundraising at St Margaret’s, said: “We are thrilled to offer a Christmas tree collection in Somerset for the first time this year.

"It’s a great opportunity for people across Somerset to dispose of their Christmas trees after the festive season while making a feel-good donation to St Margaret’s.

“We’d like to say a massive thank you to the local people and businesses who are generously donating their time and vehicles to help us collect Christmas trees – there’s still time for you or your company to get involved and join our Christmas Tree crew so please get in touch if you can spare the time!

"We’d be very grateful for your support."

St Margaret’s will be collecting trees from the following postcodes:

  • BA20, BA21 and BA22 8 and BA22 9 (Yeovil area)
  • BA5 (Wells area thanks to the Rotary Club in Wells)
  • TA1, TA2, TA3 5 and TA3 6 (Taunton area – in partnership with Children’s Hospice South West)
  • TA4 1, TA4 2 and TA4 3 (wider Taunton area)
  • TA5 2 (West Somerset)
  • TA6 3, TA6 4, TA6 5 and TA6 7 (Bridgwater area)
  • TA21 8 and TA21 9 (Wellington area)

To register for tree collection visit just-helping.org.uk/register-tree/.

Donations to St Margaret's Hospice will help them continue to care for patients across Somerset and their families.

If you donate £10, this could pay to transport a patient to and from the hospice’s Sunflower Day Care Centre where they can get help with symptom control and practical advice.

If you donate £50, this could pay for an hour of specialist nursing care for a patient at the hospice’s In-patient Unit.

For more information visit st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/christmas-tree-collection, or if you would be interested in volunteering to collect trees, call St Margaret's on 01935 709485.