Julia’s House is not only hoping local people will register with the children’s hospice for their Christmas tree to be collected and recycled by its team in January, it is also seeking vans and volunteers to make the mission possible.

Amanda Gillett, Julia’s House fundraiser, said: “Last year we collected around 650 Christmas trees and raised an incredible £9,250 in total across both Dorset and Wiltshire to support our care for seriously ill children and their families. This January we hope to collect even more, and we’d love to hear from any local businesses and individuals with vans who might be able to help us and help their local community at the same time.

“We’re essentially seeking a team of friendly elves with wheels, who are happy to be helpers and volunteer a few hours of their time for us after the Christmas season as we visit doorsteps to collect and recycle real trees.”

The charity is looking for vans of all sizes to help for a minimum of three hours in Dorset across their three collection days, between Sunday 8 and Tuesday 10 January. Volunteers are also needed to lift and load Christmas trees onto the vans.

Once collected from local homes, the trees will be taken to Adventure Pirate, Lytchett Minster and recycled as chippings for use around the site.

This year’s Christmas tree collection will take place in the areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne and Purbeck, with bookings open now on the charity’s website.

All funds raised from the Christmas tree collection will help Julia’s House provide its lifeline of care for the most seriously ill children and their families in the local community.

The promotion of this year’s Julia’s House Christmas tree collection is sponsored by Rubicon People Partnership.

Registration for the Julia’s House Christmas tree collection and recycling service closes at midday on 3 January.

If you can be a ‘helper elf’, or would like more information about the Julia’s House Christmas tree collection service, please email the team at treepickup@juliashouse.org or call 01202 644220.