Record-breaking Christmas tree collection raises over £119,000

More than 4,300 real Christmas trees were collected across Cambridgeshire in just three days in January, raising over £119,000 for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

The annual collection, which ran from 8–10 January 2026, involved 170 volunteers travelling on over 110 planned routes using vans, trucks, Land Rovers, trailers and even camper vans.

Volunteers came from local businesses, organisations and supporters of the hospice, with many taking time off work and providing their own vehicles to assist.

The initiative began eleven years ago with just 400 trees and has grown into one of the largest collections of its kind in the country. Collected trees were chipped into reusable material to support local green initiatives.

Sharon Allen, CEO of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, said:

“What an incredible start to 2026! A big thank you to everyone who has made this possible. We managed to collect over 4,300 trees in just 3 days, thanks to the 170 dedicated volunteers who braved the freezing cold and wet weather. We also want to thank everyone who donated to the Hospice to have their tree collected. We are staggered by the £119,000 in donations, what an amazing achievement, and with funding cuts on the horizon we are incredibly grateful for the continued generosity.”

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity provides free care to people in Cambridgeshire living with serious or life-limiting illnesses, as well as end-of-life support for patients and their families. Running the charity’s services in 2025/2026 will cost over £14 million, with £8.1 million funded through NHS contracts. The charity aims to raise the remaining £5.9 million through donations, fundraising activities, retail sales, and its Education and Conference Centre and Bistro. Any shortfall would have to be met from reserves.