Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has teamed up with Dorothy House Hospice Care to help them with their first ever Christmas tree recycling scheme.

A group of colleagues from SSEN's depot in Melksham will join Dorothy House staff and volunteers to collect and chip old Christmas trees across Frome, Westbury, Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Corsham and Bath's BA1 postcode areas.

Running on Saturday 7 January and Sunday 8 January, the Melksham team will use their Be the Difference days to take the vehicles and wood chippers supplied by SSEN to the sites where trees of all sizes can be chipped and shredded to make valuable reusable materials for the community. The trees themselves can be collected from businesses, schools and churches, as well as homes, and all for a small donation to help Dorothy Hospice.

Tim Watts, Tree Cutting Manager at Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) in Melksham, said: "Colleagues across SSEN are encouraged to take time away from their day jobs and use the company's Be the Difference days to help good causes and charities within the communities where they live and work.

"When we heard about Dorothy House's scheme to recycle old Christmas trees we knew that we had the willing hands, the vehicles and the chippers to help them raise vital funds for the specialist palliative care and end of life care services that they provide."

Taking part in the scheme is easy; simply log on to www.charityxmastreecollection.com, type in your postcode to make sure you area is covered by the scheme, make a small donation, book your collection slot and then check where to leave your tree for its uplift on 7 or 8 January.

Steph Cox, Community Fundraiser for Dorothy House Hospice Care, added: "This is our first Christmas tree collection and we're looking forward to helping local people recycle unwanted Christmas trees while raising funds for Dorothy House. A big thank you to all our volunteers and our supporters, including Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, for their generous help."