Christmas trees collected by Queenscourt Hospice are being used to protect rare wildlife at a farm in Formby.
It is one of the many benefits of seeking the hospice’s services to recycle your old Christmas tree.
Queenscourt volunteers will be out and about collecting your Christmas trees between Friday 12th January 2024 and Sunday 14th January 2024, with all money raised going to support the work done by the charity, which supports families across Formby, Southport and West Lancashire.
Laura Bishop, from North Moss Farm in Formby, has sent photos to Queenscourt to show how some of their Christmas trees were used last year.
Laura said: “They are mostly used for creating natural barriers to protect the cover around the fields from the livestock getting in.
“Once the livestock damage fences and access these areas they trample the crops and undergrowth in the woods, destroying the natural habitats of birds.
“The Christmas trees are much more effective at stopping the livestock, once piled high against the fences. They protect the habitat for our native birds on the farm, whilst providing natural cover for them to live and breed.
“We have a growing cuvey of grey partridge, a native breed that has been struggling in numbers and is on the conservation red list of the RSPB. So we really need to protect these areas.”
Queenscourt will be dropping trees off again this year to help with Laura’s conservation work, so if you would like to register your real Christmas tree, you can do so by clicking on this link: www.queenscourt.org.uk/trees
Christmas trees collected by Queenscourt Hospice are being used to protect rare wildlife at a farm in Formby. Photo by Laura Bishop
A Queenscourt Hospice spokesperson said: “By using our Christmas Tree Collection and Recycling service, you’ll be making a huge difference to #teamqueenscourt!
“This fundraising campaign would not be possible without our fantastic volunteers who donate their time, vehicles, and petrol to collect your real Christmas trees, which are then dropped off at one of our chipping sites.
“The chipped trees are then used for the likes of biofuel, natural habitats for animals or to create safer ground for children in local parks, amongst a wide variety of other environmentally friendly and sustainable projects.
“Below is a list of suggested donations and what you will be providing for Queenscourt Hospice patients and their families:
- £11 – will provide Bath Towels for our patients on the In-patient Unit
- £22 – will go towards providing a home-cooked meal for patients on our In-Patient Unit
- £33 – will go towards specialist books to help children going through bereavement
- £55 – will go towards a Physiotherapy Session to help ease discomfort
- £125 – could contribute towards the cost of a nurse’s shift on our In-Patient Unit
“Last year we collected over 1,600 trees raising over £22,000.
“This year we want to raise even more to help Team Queenscourt to continue exceptional compassionate care for local people with life limiting illnesses when they need us the most.”
Registration is open now.
Collection postcode:
PR8, PR9, PR4 6, L37, L39, L40, WN8
Volunteers needed:
“If you have a van or access to a van and would like to help our collection, we’d love to hear from you. Please email fundraising@queenscourt.org.uk or call 01704 517420.”
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