‘Why Christmas trees are being dumped on the streets is bad news for the environment’ Nada Farhoud – World News

Locals at St Anne’s Beach received more than 2000 Christmas trees last year. These trees are used for making sand dunes.

Nada
Christmas tree planting at St Annes Christmas trees dumped on streets are not only just a sad reminder that the festive season is over but it is also bad for the environment.
Of the eight million bought each year, an estimated seven million are thrown out in the new year, adding up to a huge carbon footprint.
But along the Fylde coast, over 10,000 old Christmas trees have been put to use to help protect the area from the growing threat of erosion and flooding.
Over the last 150 years more than 80% of the sand dunes in Lancashire, crucial for flood defences, have been lost taking with them species such as the rare natterjack toad. Just 80 hectares remain.
The dunes are also home to 280 plants and over 150 species of butterflies and moths.
Last week more than 2,000 Christmas trees donated by locals were put into trenches by volunteers at St Annes beach, the 10th year of the project. The trees are placed with the top halves sticking out so that as more sand is blown by the waves, it will catch on the branches eventually creating new dunes.
It is hoped the Fylde Sand Dunes project, which has just received funding for five more years, will protect nearly 500 properties from coastal erosion and many from flooding by acting as a natural barrier to the Irish sea at high tide.
Since 2018 over 400 captive-bred sand lizard hatchlings, one of the UKs rarest reptiles, have also been released into the dunes.
Similar projects have taken place in nearby Formby, Newquay in Cornwall, Aberystwyth and also on the Gulf coast of Texas in the US.
Project Officer Amy Pennington, from Lancashire Wildlife Trust said the local nature reserve and homes in the areas would be covered in sand without the new dunes.
Campaign manager Alan Wright added:

Over 150 species of butterflies, moths, and 280 plants can be found in the sand dunes.

Christmas trees left on the streets are not only a sad reminder that the holiday season is over, but they can also be harmful to the environment.

In fact, seven million of the eight million items purchased each year are thrown away in the new year. This adds up to a large carbon footprint.

Over 10,000 old Christmas trees were saved from flooding and erosion along the Fylde coastline.

Over the last 150 year, more than 80% sand dunes in Lancashire have been destroyed. This has resulted in the loss of species like the rare natterjacktoad. Only 80 hectares are left.

The dunes are also home for over 280 plants as well as more than 150 species of butterflies, moths, and other insects.

Over 2,000 Christmas trees were donated by locals to be placed in trenches by volunteers from St Annes beach. This is the 10th anniversary of the project.

The top halves of the trees should be pushed out so that more sand can be blown by the waves. This will create dunes.

More than 10,000 Christmas trees from the past have been used to protect the Fylde coast.

The Fylde Sand Dunes Project has been funded for five years more. It is hoped that it will protect almost 500 homes from coastal erosion and floods by acting as a natural barrier against the Irish sea.

Since 2018, over 400 captive-bred, captive-bred, sand lizard hatlings have been released into dunes. This reptile is one of the most endangered in the UK.

Similar projects have been conducted in Formby, Merseyside in Cornwall, Aberystwyth in Dyfed, Newquay in Cornwall and Merseyside in Newquay.

Amy Pennington, Project Officer at Lancashire Wildlife Trust, stated that the new dunes would not be added to the homes and nature reserves in the area.

Alan Wright, campaign manager, said: It is a great conservation program, volunteers can see results every year.

The dunes are well-shaped and smooth. On stormy days, you can see how they provide protection.

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