Ashgate Hospice has expanded its “sustainable” Christmas tree collection and recycling service to serve even more postcodes across North Derbyshire.  

The charity is once again offering residents the chance to recycle their real tree in return for a donation towards its vital care. 

The annual Treecycle scheme, sponsored by Jake Eville Tree Care, sees staff and volunteers collect trees from outside of people’s properties in the New Year.  

This year, the scheme will be branching out to five new postcode areas, including S21, S44, S45, DE45 and DE55.  

It will continue to operate across the S18, S40, S41, S42, S43 and DE4 areas. 

Leah More, Events Assistant at Ashgate Hospice, said: “We’re back with our Treecycle service to provide the people of North Derbyshire with a hassle-free Christmas! 

“We’re pleased to be extending the offering to even more postcode areas and our amazing team of volunteers will be heading to the likes of Bolsover, Alfreton and Bakewell this year. 

“Recycling your tree is a great way to create sustainable energy. The trees used this year will be used to heat agricultural buildings and a greenhouse that grows produce all year round! 

“Ultimately, the money raised will help to ensure we can continue to provide specialist care to our patients and their families who need us most.” 

The hospice is offering its service to residents for a suggested donation of £15 per tree. 

Last year, a total of 647 Trees were collected and more than £12,200 was raised to help fund care for patients and their families.  

Anyone who signs up to Ashgate Hospice’s Treecycle scheme must leave the tree on the front of their garden by 8am on 7th January.   

Trees will be collected from outside people’s properties between Sunday 7th January to Tuesday 9th January 2024.  

All bookings for tree collections must take place by 12noon on Tuesday 9th January and can be done online here. Alternatively, call the team on 01246 567250.  

What happens to recycled trees at Jake Eville Tree Care? 

Each tree is placed into a chipper individually, producing small ‘pellets’ or ‘chippings’ which, when a full van load has been produced, are then transported into a drying bay. 

Here a fan is used to direct warm air through a specialised drying floor which reduces the moisture content in the chip, resulting in a more efficient biomass fuel. 

Then the chip is loaded into a large hopper which feeds the biomass boiler. This heat produced from the boiler is redirected back into the drying floor and used to heat farm buildings.