Christmas tree collections raise cash for charity

Christmas trees are proving to be the gift that keeps on giving for charities across West Yorkshire.

Collections of the festive firs by volunteers have become a way of raising funds, as well as helping the environment.

The Sue Ryder charity has raised £49,000 towards the running of its hospice in Keighley and other services through its Treecycling Airedale, Wharfedale and the Dales scheme, which collected 3,020 trees.

And the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice had a record haul of 2,381 trees which raised more than £41,000 for the Huddersfield-based charity.

Andrew Wood, fundraising manager at the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope near Keighley, said: "The success of the Sue Ryder Christmas Treecycling scheme relies entirely on the power of volunteers.

"Thank you to all the businesses and groups who helped with the collections.

"By choosing to recycle your real tree with an optional donation to Sue Ryder, your Christmas tree has become the gift of expert care, advice and compassion for those living with serious illness, death and grief.

"Your participation helps us be there for more people during the most challenging times of their lives."

Wood said about 40 volunteers, including Keighley's Mayor and Lady Mayor Chris and Linda Herd, had offered their time to support this year's collections and helped to make "this incredible fundraising achievement possible".

Fir trees are 100% recyclable and were used in eco-piles to benefit wildlife and in biofuel stations which power the National Grid, according to the charity.

Sue Ryder provides palliative and bereavement care to thousands of families across the country.

This includes those supported by its hospice and community teams based in Oxenhope.

Forget Me Not, which cares for children with life-limiting conditions, received £1m in statutory funding for 2025/26 but government funding represents only about 20% of the money it needs.

The rest has to come from fundraising and donations including charitable bequests.

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