TREE COLLECTION IS ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKER

Trinity’s annual Christmas Tree Collection has once again yielded record-breaking results as a team of 116 volunteers spent the weekend collecting a total of 2,151 trees from across the Fylde coast. Not put off by strong winds (that had some trees blowing across gardens), the team set off to work on Friday to collect the former festive beauties from homes in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, with Fleetwood post codes being added to the collection for the first time.

Also new for this year’s collection was the support from Amazon, who provided 12 vans over the three-day event with crews to add to the team of volunteers.

Trees were deposited at recycling points at Ashworth Road and Bristol Avenue in Blackpool, North Beach Car Park in St Annes, where trees will be replanted as part of an ongoing project to restore the sand dunes, and HASSRA Sports Pavilion in Thornton, where the trees were chipped on site.

The event, which was sponsored by Easthams Solicitors and Ameon, raises money for the hospice, and this year a total of £27,500 was given in donations by people booking their trees for collection.

Corporate Partnerships

Manager, Janet Atkins, said: “Each year we find ourselves amazed at how well our Christmas Tree Collection has done, and that’s a testament to the incredible teams of volunteers from individual supporters and groups from local businesses who were out in challenging weather across the weekend collecting people’s trees.

“The addition of Amazon was fantastic – the teams worked so hard and thoroughly enjoyed their time supporting us.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who made a donation through our tree collection, which has raised a fantastic amount and will go towards helping our outstanding care teams provide specialist hospice care to everyone who needs it on the Fylde coast.

“Huge thanks goes to our sponsors, as well as to Blackpool Council and Fylde Council, whose help and organisation both in the run up to the event and over the weekend itself we just couldn’t do without. Also to James Andrew at HASSRA Sports Pavilion for his support over the campaign.”

Ingredients

(makes 8 hearts)

Lisa Faulkner’s Choux Hearts with Berries

Introduction

Having met her now husband, John Torode, on the 2010 series of Celebrity MasterChef – on which he was a judge and she a contestant – Lisa Faulkner knows full well that food is the language of love. So, what better way to woo your beloved on Valentine’s Day than with these stunning choux hearts?

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6. Put the butter and water in a medium saucepan, add the salt and sugar, and bring to the boil. Ensure the butter is melted. Remove from the heat, add the sifted flour all at once and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes away from the sides of the pan. Return to the heat and cook for 2 minutes until the paste is pale. Cool a little.

2. Add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, incorporating fully with a wooden spoon after each addition. The mixture will go glossy then back to dull. Add the eggs until the mixture is shiny again and it just drops o the wooden spoon. Cool the mixture for about 10 minutes. Put in a piping bag and pipe heart shapes on to a baking sheet dampened with a little water.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes then reduce the temperature to 160°C, gas mark 3, and bake for a further 15-20 minutes until golden.

4. Pour the cream into a chilled bowl and whisk, either by hand or with a hand mixer, until sti peaks form. This may take a few minutes.

5. When cooked, turn the hearts over and pop back into the

For the choux pastry

• 90g butter

• 360ml water

• pinch salt

• pinch sugar

• 110g plain flour, sifted

• 3 whole eggs, beaten well

To serve:

• 500ml double cream

• 400g mixed fresh berries

Top Tips

Be careful not to overwhip your cream. As soon as you have firm peaks (you should be able to hold the bowl over your head without it spilling out!) you should stop.

If berries aren’t your thing use whatever fruit you prefer… mango and passion fruit, for example.

oven for 2 minutes to dry out a little. Split each heart in half horizontally and then spoon or pipe the whipped cream on the base. Top with the other half and fill the centre with the fruit. Serve immediately.

Valentine’s Wordsearch

Arrow Balloons

Card

Valentine Kiss

Love Hugs Heart Pink Cupid