The University is helping local charity, Hospiscare, to recycle Christmas trees and raise money to support terminally ill people and their families.

Hospiscare will be collecting trees around Exeter between 11 – 17 January and delivering them to the University’s Streatham Campus where they will be chipped by our Grounds Team.

Agricultural students from Bicton College will be on hand to support the activity and gain first-hand experience in the operation of a woodchipper.

The University will be donating all the chippings to the Avanti Hall School (previously the Steiner Academy) and to improve local Public Rights of Way.

Last year Hospiscare raised over £5,000 with the collection service and, with our support, they are hoping to double that in 2020. Their vans will be out again this January to collect trees for a £10 donation.

“We are very grateful to the University of Exeter for agreeing to dispose of the trees our volunteers will be collecting in January”, said Louise Beeken, Head of Fundraising at Hospiscare.

“This support means we can pick up twice as many trees as last year, and from a larger area, and all the money raised will help to fund our care of terminally ill patients across Exeter, Mid and East Devon. It’s great also that the chippings from the trees will be used in other projects the University are helping with, a win-win all round!”

Anthony Cockell, Deputy Grounds Operations Manager at the University of Exeter, said “The University Grounds Team feels privileged to support the service Hospiscare provide to our community in Devon. We will be helping recycling all materials from their Christmas tree collection recycling scheme.”

“I must thank Bill Johnston, Head of Machinery Imports, at T H White and the provision of his Jensen woodchippers for making this event possible. It has brought a great opportunity for Bicton College students who will join us on the day and broaden their industry experience. The finished chippings will be shared with Avanti Hall School for their play area, as well as for the public footpaths in Lower Hoopern Valley. It will be a great effort by all and I am very much looking forward to it.”