Lancashire Christmas tree collections to raise money for hospices
Hospices are collecting trees in return for donations
Christmas tree collections are on offer across Lancashire, with many hospices, community groups, environmental organisations and councils involved.
Hospices are collecting old trees in return for donations, which raise vital funds for their work. And trees can be recycled for various uses including helping protect Lancashire’s coastal sand dunes.
Tree collection arrangements may vary across different districts but here are some examples across Lancashire.
In the Lancaster district, St John’s Hospice is collecting old trees and bookings must be placed by 12 midnight on Sunday, January 4. Collections are due on January 8, 9 and 10. Households should ensure trees are ready for collection from 7am on Thursday, January 8, for collection at some point over the three-days
In the Fylde and Blackpool area, real Christmas trees can be taken to drop-off points to then be planted in coastal sand dunes and regenerate natural flood defences. Drop-off points are North Beach Car Park in St Annes or William Segar Hodson Park in Kirkham between Friday, January 2, and Monday, January 12.
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is involved with the Fylde Sand Dunes Project, backed by Fylde and Blackpool councils and the Environment Agency.
Also in Fylde, Trinity Hospice is collecting trees for donations from Friday, January 9 to Sunday, January 11. Last year, 2,000 trees were recycled and over £24,000 was raised for hospice care, according to Fylde Council.
Bookings should be made on the hospice website by 9pm on Monday, January 5. Trees should be placed outside by 8am on Friday January 9. While the service is free, there is a suggested donation of £10 to the hospice.
In the Preston area, the Rotary Club of Longridge and North Preston is collecting and recycling trees. Collections will be on January 10 and trees should left by 8am that day. Bookings can be done through the rotary club’s website or by emailing [email protected] or calling 07971 843661.
In the Pendle and Burnley areas, Pendleside Hospice is offering a Christmas tree collection service for a donation towards the hospice’s work. Requests can be made on the hospice’s website.
Collections will be taking place on January 8, 9 and 10. Trees should be left in a prominent place, easy to see and collect, on the evening of January 9. All trees will be brought back to the hospice to be chipped with the bark recycled.
In the Ribble Valley, Hynburn and Blackburn with Darwen, East Lancashire Hospice is collecting trees over the weekend of January 9, 10 and 11. Bookings should be be made on the hospice website by 5pm on Monday, January 5.
Councils across Lancashire may also take trees with regular waste collections or offer other services. Typically, any tree or waste intended for recycling must not be put into plastic bags and tree decorations should be removed.
Council websites have more local details and booking forms. Rossendale Council, for example, has a Christmas tree collection service costing £5 per tree, with a maximum of two trees per household, running until Saturday, January 24. Trees will be shredded and recycled for other uses.
Across Lancashire, real trees and extra waste can be taken by households to any Lancashire County Council household waste recycling centre. These are at Altham, Barnoldswick, Burnley, Burscough, Carnforth, Chorley, Clitheroe, Farington, Fleetwood, Garstang, Haslingden, Lancaster, Longridge, Lytham, Preston and Skelmersdale. The centres are closed on New Year’s Day.