CHILDREN'S Hospice South West (CHSW) and St Margaret’s Hospice Care are offering a Christmas tree recycling service for households across Somerset.

'Treecyclers’ raised almost £8,000 for CHSW last Christmas and is collecting real trees in even more locations in return for a donation.

Donations for trees collected in Taunton postcodes areas TA1, TA2 and TA3 will be split between CHSW and St Margaret’s.

Volunteers from Biffa will be collecting trees between January 10 and 17. The last booking date is Thursday, January 4.

CHSW area fundraiser Henrietta Olsson said: “This is such an easy, green and charitable way to recycle your Christmas tree, while helping to provide vital care and support to children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

“The money raised from collecting and recycling trees will help make a huge difference for people at their most difficult times, so don’t wait – book your collection in today.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Biffa, who are generously donating their time and vehicles to help us collect the Christmas trees. We are looking forward to working together with St Margarets Hospice again this year and raising vital funds for two local charities who do such vital work here in the South West.”

Volunteers from St Margaret’s will also be out collecting trees from kerbsides across Somerset on Saturday and Sunday, 13 and 14. More volunteers are needed.

Kerry Baillie, St Margaret's community partnerships manager, said: “We are thrilled to be teaming up with CHSW again this year to collect trees across the county.

"This amazing initiative is a wonderful way to make a difference in your local community and raise money to help us continue to support patients and their families through one of the most difficult times in their lives. So don’t miss out on your chance to get involved and book your collection today by visiting www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/christmas-tree-collection !

“If you don’t have a real tree to recycle but you want to do something to support your local hospice you can join our Christmas tree collection crew to help ensure this countywide operation runs smoothly. There are lots of volunteering roles available from collecting trees to co-ordinating our drop off sites so if you can spare a few hours to help out please visit our www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/christmas-tree-volunteer.”

To book a Christmas tree collection with Children’s Hospice South West visit www.chsw.org.uk/christmastree