CHRISTMAS trees will be turned into bedding for rhinos this year thanks to a partnership between a charity and a popular leisure attraction.

Festive volunteers from the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust will collect Christmas Trees from people’s homes to be recycled as part of its fourth Christmas Treecycling campaign in Worcestershire.

But this year,West Midland Safari Park is backing the campaign and will be the drop off point for some of the chippings used on site for bedding for the Asian Rhinos and other animals.

Coralie Hudson, fundraiser at the charity said: “It’s wonderful to have West Midland Safari Park onboard this year and we are so grateful to every one of our supporters. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to offer something back to our community by taking the hassle out of battling your tree into the car to take to

the tip – with the bonus that its environmentally friendly too!

"We are thrilled that the Wyre Forest tree chippings will be used for the rhinos – and it was fabulous to be invited down to come and meet these majestic animals.”

Charlotte Stokes, head of operations at West Midland Safari Park said: “When I first met the Grace Kelly team, they talked about how the children of today all deserve a tomorrow and this is true, whether we are discussing children's health, or the future of their planet.

“Knowing we are working together across the community to support childhood cancer and a more sustainable end to the festive season is a fantastic feeling, and I can't wait to start collecting and chipping fresh bedding for our Asian rhinos and other animals!”

Also working alongside the Trust will be volunteers from the #bemorefrank campaign who will help deliver the service across Hereford.

By request, the Wyre Forest area, including Kidderminster, Bewdley, Stourport and surrounding areas, will be included as the charity is increasingly supporting oncology families in the region.

Collections will be held from Saturday, January 9 to Tuesday, January 12 2024.

The team are collecting in the following areas: 

WR1, WR2, WR3, WR4, WR5, WR6, WR7, WR8, WR9, WR10, WR11, WR12, St John’s Worcester and Crowle, Upton Snodsbury, Broughton Hacket, White Ladies Aston and Drakes Broughton.

B45, B48, B49, B60, B61, B80, B95, B96, B97, B98, Barnt Green, Alvechurch, Feckenham and Inkberrow.  

Wyre Forest and surrounding areas: DY9, DY10, DY11, DY12 and DY13.

The Be More Frank Team will be collecting from HR1, HR2, HR3, HR4, HR5, LD3.

Backing the Trust’s 2024 campaign is Track Pod, Shires Tree Surgery, Conquest Paving and Landscapes, Middlebrook Media, Cloud Top Technology, The Royal Oak Broadwas, Invoco Telecom, Pete Rose Transport, SME Solicitors, The Marquee Company, Green Cable, City Signs, SMH Solutions, Dormer Hire Centre, Vietec Challenge Technology, Green Cable, Phoneworcs, Lucart Hygiene, C & R Services, Worcester Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs Chessgrove Woodchip and APM Trees.

Register your tree at https://www.gkcct.org/treecycle

Bookings close at 5pm on Tuesday, January 2.