Staff members at local businesses are being encouraged to help York’s St Leonard’s Hospice by using its special Christmas-card tree instead of buying cards for their fellow-workers.

The two-foot-high board trees come complete with small individual cards that slot in.

Staff members can use them to send greetings to all their colleagues – and the Hospice hopes that they will make a donation to match the amount they save on conventional cards. The Christmas-card trees were launched yesterday at Barratt David Wilson Homes Yorkshire East Division at Monks Cross.

Lisa Reinhard, PA to the managing director, and her colleagues, begin to complete the cards for the first tree.

Judith Wilson, community fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, said: “Our Christmas-card trees are an easy and fun way for everyone to wish their colleagues a happy Christmas, and help the Hospice with a donation at the same time. We are very pleased that Lisa and the Barratt David Wilson Homes staff have made a start on the tree, and we’d be delighted to let other businesses have a tree – and a collecting box for donations, too.”

Businesses who would like a St Leonard’s Hospice Christmas-card tree can phone Judith on 01904 77 77 77.