Christmas trees planted to protect against coastal erosion

Christmas trees are recycled to help prevent coastal erosion

Disused Christmas trees are being used to help save vital sand dunes and their fragile ecosystems in Widemouth Bay, north Cornwall.

Local residents donate their old Christmas trees to what has become an annual event organised by Widemouth Task Force.

Rather than take their old tinsel-free trees to the tip, each year the group appeals for locals to donate them in a bid to help stabalise and protect the delicate dunes along the north Cornwall coast.

The idea is to plant the trees to help hold the sand back so that important marram grass can be replanted at a later date to help preserve the dunes and protect wildlife as well as the properties behind them.

Hundreds of Christmas trees are donated each year delivered both at Widemouth Bay and Black Rock.

Widemouth Task Force are joined in the project by Cornwall Council, Cormac, The Bude Valley Volunteers and Cornwall Wildlife Trust and local resident volunteers.

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