Tree-mendous way to protect sand dunes

Around 1,000 discarded trees are being ‘planted’ on St Annes beach by Fylde Council staff and volunteers this week as part of an ongoing scheme to minimise windblown sand on nearby roads and gardens.

Geoff Willetts, Fylde Council’s senior coast and countryside officer, said: “This is the fourth year that we have planted old Christmas trees to trap the windblown sand to encourage the dunes to move seaward.

“They are highly effective. Last year’s trees are almost completely buried in sand that would otherwise have been on roads and gardens. Most of the first trees we planted four years ago can’t be seen at all now.

“Thanks to residents and garden centres giving us old Christmas trees, we have been able to divert tens and possibly hundreds of tonnes of sand from roads by keeping it on the dunes.

“Keeping sand on the dunes acts as a soft sea defence when the waves are really high so thousands of residents are gaining by recycling their Christmas trees.”