Children’s hospice campaign raises 'tree-ly amazing' £46,000

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice is celebrating the continued success of its Recycle Your Christmas Tree campaign, which returned for an eighth consecutive year raising more than £46,000 to support local children and families.

Sponsored by long-standing partner Beatson Clark and supported by recycling partners E.ON and A&A Recycling, the campaign received public and corporate support, with 100 per cent of funds raised going directly to the hospice, based in North Anston.

The initiative saw Bluebell Wood working alongside more than 50 corporate partners from across the region.

Following the festive season, local people booked their Christmas trees for collection, which were then collected by corporate volunteers and gathered centrally by A&A Recycling.

The trees were subsequently recycled by E.ON, who are supporting the campaign for the second year running.

E.ON uses the recycled trees to generate renewable electricity at its Blackburn Meadows Renewable Energy Plant, which helps power around one third of Sheffield’s homes and businesses.

Heidi Hawkins, chief executive of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the incredible support shown by our local community and businesses once again this year.

“Recycle Your Christmas Tree is a long-standing campaign with an equally long-standing sponsor in Beatson Clark and it continues to grow year on year.

“With the support of organisations such as E.ON and A&A Recycling, people can be assured that they are not only helping families who desperately need our care at the most difficult times imaginable, but also supporting an initiative where 100% of trees are recycled and put back into the community.

“This is a truly cyclical campaign that benefits local families, the environment and the wider community.

“We want to say a huge thank you to all of our corporate partners, volunteers and everyone who chose to recycle their tree with Bluebell Wood this year.

“You have done something truly amazing.”

Jess Dhariwal, plant manager at E.ON’s Blackburn Meadows biomass energy plant, said: “A massive thank you and congratulations to everyone involved in making this campaign such a huge success for this incredibly worthwhile charity.”

Charlotte Pike, from campaign sponsor Beatson Clark, added: “It’s a wonderful initiative that brings the community together while raising vital funds for an amazing cause.”