Real Christmas trees are great but they can give you the needle when it’s time to dispose of them.

This January why not ‘tree-cycle’ your fir and give one of Huddersfield’s two hospices a fundraising boost into the bargain?

Kirklees Council has joined forces with The Kirkwood and the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice to help recycle Christmas trees and raise funds at the same time. Last year the initiative raised an incredible £33,000.

Volunteers from the council’s street cleansing teams are helping the two hospices collect and recycle trees from people’s homes in exchange for a small donation from just £10. 

From January 8-16, collections will be made on behalf of Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice. Collections on these dates will cover the following postcodes: WF4, WF12, WF13, WF14, WF15, WF16, WF17, HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4, HD5, HD6, HD7, HD8, HD9, HX1, HX2, HX3, HX4, HX5, HX6, HX7, BD4, BD11, BD12, BD13, BD19, OL13, OL14 and LS28.

To book a collection for one of these postcodes, please go to the hospice website at https://www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk/christmas-tree-collections

On January 13-16 the teams will be collecting trees to support Kirkwood Hospice. Collections on these dates will cover the following postcodes: HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4, HD5, HD7 4, HD7 5, HD8, HD9 (excluding HD9 2), BD19, WF13, WF14, WF15, WF16 and WF17.

To book a collection for one of these postcodes go to the Just Helping website at www.charityxmastreecollection.com

Clr Will Simpson, Cabinet member for culture and greener Kirklees, said: “This is the fourth year that we have volunteered with our charity partners to help in the tree-cycling of Christmas trees.

“Last year we helped collect over 2,500 Christmas trees that went on to be turned into wood chippings to be used as top dressings on soil in local parks, sports fields and farms, while some got turned into biomass for green heating.

“We are hoping to collect and recycle even more this time. As a result, less trees will be inappropriately disposed of, valuable nutrients will be put back into the earth and substantial funds will be raised for two very important local hospices.

“Last Christmas the campaign raised over £33,000 and, fingers crossed, we can smash that figure and give the hospices a tree-mendous late Christmas present.”