Farleigh Hospice will be collecting real Christmas trees from across mid Essex to recycle on 10, 11 and 12 January 2025.

A real Christmas tree looks beautiful in your home or office and can feel far more festive than an artificial tree, as well as being kinder to the environment.

However, it can be difficult to dispose of, requiring a trip to the local recycling centre that leaves your car full of discarded pine needles.

Farleigh Hospice's convenient Christmas Tree Recycling Service will be collecting real trees from outside homes and businesses in Braintree, Burnham, Chelmsford, Coggeshall, Danbury, Dunmow, Kelvedon, Maldon, Southminster, South Woodham Ferrers, Stock, Witham and Writtle as well as the surrounding villages and areas, from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 January.

These trees will then be shredded into wood chippings to be used as bio mass fuel or on pathways in local parks and cemeteries instead of going to waste or landfill.

Jacob Oram of Contour Landscapes. (Credit: Farleigh Hospice)

Farleigh Hospice is very grateful to the individuals and businesses who give their time and vehicles to provide this useful local service.

Last year 140 people volunteered, collecting close to 3,000 trees.

Farleigh provides specialist hospice care and support, free of charge, to local people in mid Essex who are affected by life-limiting illnesses and bereavement.

Debbie de Boltz, Farleigh's Head of Fundraising, said, "if you have a real tree, you can trust Farleigh Hospice to collect and recycle it for you. Over the years, our Christmas Tree Recycling Service has recycled more than 150 tonnes of wood chippings, so you know it won't go to waste, and any donation you give will help us to provide local hospice care and support where and when it is needed.

"Thank you to the team at Contour Landscapes who chip the trees and to the amazing volunteers, companies, organisations and councils who help us to continue providing this successful tree recycling service for mid Essex."

To find out more, register your real Christmas tree for recycling and give a donation, go to the Farleigh Hospice website before 4pm on 8 January.