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From Friday 9th to Sunday 11th January, thousands of Christmas trees were collected across East Kent as part of Pilgrims Hospice’s annual Christmas Tree Collection. Powered by an incredible team of volunteers and the generous backing of local businesses who provided time, vehicles and expertise, the event raised vital funds to support the compassionate care Pilgrims Hospice delivers across the region.

The AW Group team was proud to play its part, heading out on the Friday in challenging winter conditions at the tail end of Storm Goretti. Despite the cold and wet weather, four large loads of trees were successfully collected from Herne Bay, Whitstable and Canterbury, keeping the operation moving smoothly.

Strong planning and clear coordination from the Pilgrims team made all the difference, helping crews navigate road closures and the narrow, winding roads that are part and parcel of this corner of Kent.

Once collected, the trees were chipped at the hospice sites by dedicated tree surgeons who also worked through torrential rain, sleet and snow. The resulting chippings are put to good use—some supporting local composting initiatives, while others are returned to hospice gardens, helping to maintain calm, welcoming outdoor spaces for patients and their families.

Now in its fifth year, the Christmas Tree Collection has become a simple and meaningful way to say goodbye to the festive season while giving something back to the community. Every tree recycled helps raise essential funds to support people living with life-limiting illness and those who care for them.

We’d like to thank everyone involved. The energy, teamwork and positive spirit behind this event make it a genuinely rewarding initiative to be part of.

Be sure to mark it in your diary for 2027. In the meantime, there are plenty of other ways to support Pilgrims Hospice throughout the year, from taking part in events and challenges to volunteering your time and helping the team with the day-to-day running of their sites.

AW Group is a multi-disciplined construction company providing a broad range of support and manpower across building and rail projects.

Our Fields are:

AW Construction – We offer an outstanding UK-wide fit out service, taking care of everything from scheduling rollouts & ordering materials to assistance with design and onsite delivery

AW Rail – We use the very best labour force and a proactive approach to deliver first-class construction and maintenance projects across the rail industry

AW Labour – We provide a high-calibre blue collar and white-collar workforce with a diverse range of skills, to support the construction and rail industries