Organisers of the East Cheshire Hospice Christmas tree collection plan to celebrate its silver jubilee in style.
The 25th anniversary of the scheme falls coincidentally in 2025 with trees collected on the weekend of January 11 and 12.
The scheme has been an extraordinary success, raising almost £2m for the Hospice.
Registrations are open at www.echtrees.org.uk
Co-founder Richard Raymond said: “This next collection is a big one for us and we want to make it a special celebration.
Tree collection co-founders Pete Chapman (left) and Richard Raymond.
“We wouldn’t have reached this milestone without the amazing dedication of volunteers, donors and sponsors over the years.
“It has been an incredible journey and, importantly, we need to continue to raise funds for the Hospice which now needs to fundraise £9,362 daily.”
The tree idea came in 1999 when Heather Chapman, wife of co-founder Pete, suggested collecting discarded Christmas trees to help buy a new organ at Prestbury Church where son Andy, then 15, sang in the choir.
Each chorister received a £10 incentive. The family trailer was used to pick up trees and the couple realised the fundraising potential.
Pete said: “We used the £10 note to pay for petrol to collect trees from the neighbours and raised £600 for two charities. Everyone said it was a brilliant idea and asked if we’d do it again.
“The success has been beyond our wildest dreams, inspiring dozens of similar collections around the country.”
Volunteers at the last tree collection.
Richard said: “Pete asked me the second year if we could borrow a van from where I worked and the third year said he felt he was on to something.
“We needed a charity that would appeal to everyone in the area so from 2001 we decided to support the Hospice.
“More than 160 hospices run Christmas tree collections, all originating from ours. Many have had help from us.
“Peter and I liaise with them over Zoom and they email with questions.
“As we’ve been down that road, we know what to do. We created help sheets and have set up a resources library which hospices can access.”
Macclesfield MP Tim Roca is among volunteers in January.
Sponsorship covers running costs meaning every donation goes directly to providing care. The collection covers postcode areas CW12, SK9, SK10, SK11, SK12 & WA16.
* Visit echtrees.org.uk to find out more or call the customer care helpline on 01625 708939.
Back to all newsThank you so much for choosing to support East Cheshire Hospice. You may never know how much your gift means, but we know that it will make the world of difference to our patients and their families.
