Hundreds of volunteers, thousands of recycled Christmas trees and a record-breaking £37,000 raised - Trinity Hospice’s annual tree collection has hit a record.

Trinity Hospice’s much-loved Christmas tree collection has raised a record-breaking £37,000, providing a major boost for hospice care across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

Over one busy winter weekend 84 dedicated volunteers braved freezing temperatures to collect Christmas trees from homes across the Fylde coast.

Collections took place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with volunteers covering a wide area including Kirkham, Lytham, Blackpool and Fleetwood.

Volunteers from the HASSRA Sports Pavilion in Thornton prepare to chip Christmas Trees as part of Trinity Hospice’s annual Christmas Tree Collection | Trinity Hospice

placeholder image — Volunteers from the HASSRA Sports Pavilion in Thornton prepare to chip Christmas Trees as part of Trinity Hospice’s annual Christmas Tree Collection | Trinity Hospice

In total, 2,070 Christmas trees were collected for recycling. The trees were delivered to James Andrew Tree Care at the HASSRA Fylde Community Pavilion in Thornton, where they were chipped and distributed for use at local allotments, the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Bristol Avenue in Bispham, SUEZ Recycling Centre on Ashworth Road in Blackpool, and North Beach Car Park in St Annes.

Some will also support the annual tree planting campaign to help restore the area’s sand dunes.

Residents who booked a collection were asked to make a donation for each tree with every pound going directly to support Trinity Hospice’s services.

This year’s scheme raised more money than ever before, with the total amount enough to fund Trinity’s Hospice at Home service for more than three weeks.

The Hospice at Home service provides essential overnight care and support to patients and their families, offering comfort, reassurance and clinical expertise at times when other services may be unavailable - often preventing unnecessary hospital admissions.

Trinity Hospice collected 2,070 trees ready for the annual burial at St Annes | Lucinda Herbert / Iconic Media

Joanne Fowler, Trinity Hospice’s Community & Corporate Fundraising Manager, said: “Our team of volunteers and supporters have done an incredible job collecting Christmas trees from across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, making this our biggest collection yet.

“Our team of amazing volunteers worked so hard, braving early morning and freezing temperatures to visit homes from Kirkham to Lytham, Blackpool to Fleetwood.

“To have raised enough money to fund three whole weeks of this amazing service is just fantastic.

“This annual scheme means so much to us; not only are we providing a service for our local communities, but the donations mean we’re also providing a vital service to local families who need hospice care. Plus we’re doing our bit to help the environment at this time of year.”

Trinity Hospice also thanked everyone who booked a collection and made a donation, as well as event sponsors Easthams Solicitors and Ameon, and partners Blackpool Council and Fylde Council.