Sue Ryder has launched a recycling scheme to reduce waste and raise funds this festive season.

The healthcare charity, which runs the Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham, found that, of those who are having a Christmas tree this year, over three in five (61%) South West residents surveyed plan on using an artificial tree, while (39%) are opting for a real tree.

Just 15% plan on recycling their real Christmas tree by using a local charity scheme. Sue Ryder hopes more people will introduce Treecycling as a new Christmas tradition this year and help to raise vital funds for families needing palliative care and bereavement support.

Last year, the charity provided palliative care to thousands of families across the country, including from Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice. Its bereavement support includes an online community forum, free bereavement counselling service, personalised text support and new Grief Kind Spaces in Cheltenham and Gloucester and other parts of the country.

The charity's green tree scheme is available to residents of certain postcodes across Gloucestershire and is open to register from November 20 until January 9.

For a suggested donation, Sue Ryder's Christmas Treecycling scheme will see the charity collect your tree from your front door, front garden or driveway and turn it into compost or wood chippings for use in a variety of ways to help reduce landfill waste. Funds raised will help Sue Ryder continue to provide expert and compassionate care to people with life-limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families.

Rachael Cleary, senior sustainability officer at Sue Ryder, said: "Recycling your Christmas tree or choosing sustainable ways to decorate your real firs are such simple and effective means of reducing your carbon footprint and giving back to nature. So, give a little extra 'green' gift this Christmas while supporting a fantastic cause!"

Alysia Cameron-Price, community fundraiser for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: "The trees collected across Gloucestershire will be transformed into something new and useful. Last year, with support from Greenway Tree Care, the chippings collected from the community's Christmas trees were used to lay the peaceful path through our hospice woods. Any donations given will help Sue Ryder to help us continue to be there when it matters - at a time where charities everywhere, including Sue Ryder, are relying on public donations more than ever before."

Tamsin Grainger, from the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court fundraising team, said: "The Sue Ryder Treecycling Scheme operating across Gloucestershire is run entirely by volunteer-power and with thanks to our friends at Greenway Tree Care and JB Event Hire. We'd like to thank them for all their support, which helps us raise such vital funds for families needing our care."

Residents who live in GL2 0, GL2 8, GL2 9, GL3 1, GL3 2, GL20 5, GL20 6, GL20 7, GL20 8, GL50, GL51 and GL52, GL53 postcodes can have their trees collected between Monday January 15 and Friday January 19.

To book a collection, visit www.sueryder.org /glostreecycling by January 9.