HOUSEHOLDS can book in a collection for their real Christmas tree – and help a county charity.

As decorations start to go up across Dorset and beyond, Weldmar Hospicecare has launched a Christmas Treecycle scheme.

People can book in a real Christmas tree collection in January 2024 in return for a suggested minimum donation of £10 per tree to the charity.

Collections will be made between Saturday, January 6, and Monday, January 8, in the Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester, Beaminster, Blandford, Bridport, Sherborne, Shaftesbury and Gillingham areas.

The initiative is again supported by the locally-run Trinity St Christmas Trees, who will be making the collections on Weldmar’s behalf, alongside Weldmar volunteers, and helping to dispose of the trees in an eco-friendly manner.

Fiona Hansford, fundraising lead, said money raised through the scheme will make a significant difference for those who need the charity’s care.

“This will be the sixth year of running Weldmar’s Christmas Treecycle, and each year it has grown, every donation for every tree collected means that we can continue to provide specialist care for adults in Dorset living with a life limiting illness, and support for their loved ones,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to going out and helping with the collections again this year.”

Tamzin Hyde, from Trinity St Christmas Trees, added: “As a Dorset-based Christmas tree grower and retailer, we are delighted to be partnering on this scheme with Weldmar once again.

“Last year was a record year and we were able to collect more than 1,200 trees, which raised an amazing £12,500 for the charity, this will make an incredible difference to people across Dorset.

“Weldmar are a great charity we are pleased to support and this is a fantastic scheme, supporting our community, that we are extremely proud to be involved with.”

To book a collection date, or find out more about volunteering with tree collections, log on to weldmarhospicecare.org/trees.