Tree-Cycling Collection raises more than £14K for Havens Hospices

January 14, 2025

Havens Hospices has successfully turned trees into care once more, collecting 1150 real Christmas trees from homes across south Essex.

Between January 10th and 13th, the charity’s tree collection service visited households in Southend, Castle Point, Rayleigh, Rochford, Hockley, and Canvey Island, collecting trees in exchange for donations to support the hospice’s essential services. These funds will directly impact those of all ages living with incurable conditions, offering specialist care at Fair Havens and Little Havens Hospices.

This initiative was only made possible through the generous efforts of local businesses and volunteers, who donated their time and vehicles to transport trees across hundreds of miles over the course of three days.

This year’s collections were kindly sponsored by local tool company ITS and all the trees collected have now been turned into wood chippings for free by Essex Tree Services to be reused in the gardens and grounds at Fair Havens and Little Havens, to enhance the outdoor areas which patients and families enjoy.

Lucy Lock, Community Engagement Manager at Havens Hospices, said: “After five years of collecting trees across South-East Essex, this year was our biggest fundraiser to date and that’s only thanks to the amazing support of our local community and volunteers.

“Those businesses who kindly volunteered their time during the frosty cold weather over the weekend included Walton Removals, R.C Boreham & Co, Marfell Plumbing, Daws Heath Timber, Transform PMS, Public Sewer Services, FedEx, Castle Point Gas, Tiger Business, Supply2Location, Deckchairs UK, Canvey Concrete Pumping, NLC Services, LAP Ceramics and Ruggles & Jeffery. A big thank you must also go to all those volunteers who helped unload the vans and handed out refreshments, including Oldham’s who provided free fish and chips as much-needed fuel.

“Our care is free of charge, and that’s only possible thanks to fundraising campaigns like this. If you have a van and would like to help us collect trees next year in January 2026, please get in touch – any support you can give will be greatly appreciated.”