More than 2,000 Christmas trees were collected across Somerset last weekend, raising an incredible £32,000 for St Margaret's Hospice Care as part of the charity's first major fundraising event of the year.

Over 150 volunteers took part in the Christmas Tree Collection, including residents from Street, Glastonbury, Wells, Frome and Shepton Mallet. Braving the January chill, they collected 2,065 trees for recycling in exchange for donations to the hospice, making it the most successful collection to date.

Proudly sponsored by Buses of Somerset, this year's event marked the start of St Margaret's Hospice's 45th anniversary celebrations, with all funds raised supporting the charity's free hospice care for patients across the county.

The trees were taken to drop-off stations where local tree surgeons chipped them into mulch, which has since been distributed to farms, allotments, and even the hospice's own gardens as an eco-friendly pathway cover.

The £32,000 raised could fund around 426 visits from St Margaret's community nurses, who deliver care to patients in their homes across Somerset, including in Street, Glastonbury, Wells, and Shepton Mallet. With 95% of the hospice's care delivered in patients' homes, these visits ensure compassionate, responsive support in familiar surroundings.

Kerry Baillie, Community Partnerships Manager at St Margaret's Hospice, expressed her gratitude: "Working with Just Helping and Children's Hospice Southwest, we are incredibly thankful to our dedicated volunteers for helping us collect over 2,000 trees across Somerset, with smiles on their faces. Their commitment is truly inspiring, and we're so grateful for their support. This year was our biggest collection yet, raising over £32,000 to help us continue providing care across the county."

The event saw strong support from local businesses and organisations, including Arbortech Professional Tree Services, Avery's Garden Centre, Berrys Coaches, Gibbins Richards, and the Rotary Club of Wells.

The success of the event highlights the power of community action. Many volunteers return each year, motivated by the sense of purpose and camaraderie the collection inspires. A spokesperson for Gibbins Richards said: "We love helping with this every January and the total money raised keeps increasing year on year! Well done, everyone."

St Margaret's Hospice is inviting local residents to get involved in future fundraising events, with a full calendar of activities planned for the 45th anniversary year. To find out more or sign up to volunteer, visit st-margarets-hospice.org.uk.