On Saturday, 11and Sunday 12 January, ranks of lorries, vans and trucks set off across Somerset to collect Christmas trees in return for donations to St Margaret’s Hospice! Braving winter’s chill, 150 volunteers set out to collect an astounding 2,065 trees – talk about dropped needles!
Proudly sponsored by Buses of Somerset, this year’s Christmas Tree Collection was extra special, marking the first major fundraising event in our 45th anniversary year of providing free hospice care in Somerset. What a tree-riffic way to kickstart the celebrations! Now in its fourth year, St Margaret’s Christmas Tree Collection has grown and grown – unlike the old trees. This year, it raised an incredible £32,000, making it the most successful collection yet in supporting hospice care across Somerset.
Wrapped in winter coats, topped with St Margaret’s bobble hats, and armoured in an array of safety gear, the volunteers collectively spent over 1000 hours hauling thousands of Christmas trees to drop-off stations across Somerset. At these stations, local tree surgeons chipped them into mulch. The chippings were given to local farms, allotments, and the hospice gardens themselves to be used for pathways and as eco-friendly mulch. What a sustainable way to recycle your real Christmas tree!
The event is a shining example of community spirit across Somerset, bringing together people from all walks of life to support a shared cause. Many volunteers return year after year, drawn to the camaraderie and sense of purpose this fundraising event inspires.
“We love helping with this every January and the total money raised keeps increasing year on year!! Well done everyone….” said a spokesperson for Gibbins Richards, one of our amazing returning volunteers.
The impact of this event goes far beyond recycling. The money raised during this event could pay for 426 visits from a Community Nurse. With 95% of St Margaret’s Care delivered directly in patients’ homes and living spaces, these visits provide holistic, compassionate and responsive care, enabling people to be supported in the comfort of their own surroundings.
Hospice care is about so much more than end-of-life – it’s about enhancing quality of life and ensuring dignity for every patient. Important fundraising events like the Christmas Tree Collection showcase the power of community action in sustaining this vital work.
Kerry Baillie, Community Partnerships Manager at St Margaret’s Hospice, expressed her gratitude for this year’s event. “Working with Just Helping and Children’s Hospice Southwest, we are incredibly thankful to our dedicated volunteers to help us collect over 2,000 trees across Somerset, with smiles on their faces. Their commitment is truly inspiring, and we’re so grateful for their support. This year was our biggest collection yet, raising over £32,000 to help us continue providing care across the county. A special thank you to our headline sponsors, Buses of Somerset, for their continued support. We’re already looking forward to next year’s collection—stay tuned for updates!”