Christmas is over and many people will be starting to take down their decorations.

If you opted for a real Christmas tree this year, getting rid of the tree sustainably and legally isn’t that simple.

Luckily, there are many sustainable ways to get rid of your real Christmas trees in Lancashire -including one way which protects the Lancashire coastline.

 

 

The Fylde Sand Dunes Project has been running for several years and is part of a partnership project between Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Fylde Council and Blackpool Council; the aim is to grow the sand dunes seaward.

Over the last 150 years, over 80 per cent of Fylde’s coastline dunes have been lost – mainly due to the expansion of coastal towns.

With The Fylde Sand Dunes Project the trees are partially buried in the dunes on St Anne’s beach to encourage them to develop, protect them from flooding and also offer a home to a range of flora and fauna.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust said: “Your donated Christmas trees are partially buried in a line in front of the existing dunes, where their branches stick up slightly and trap wind-blown sand.

“Over time the sand accumulates around the trees and new embryo dunes start to build up! Since the project started [in 2012] we’ve seen up to a 80m increase in width across the St Anne’s dune system.”

Last year, 2500 trees were donated and recycled into the dunes.

This year, trees are being buried in Fylde’s sand dunes between the 9th and 11th February.

If you would like to make a donation and help build new dunes as an individual or a small family/friends group of less than 10 please book on using the booking system.

If you are a large group (of more than 10) or a business/organisation please book by emailing apennington@lancswt.org.uk

To find out more, visit the Lancashire Wildlife Trust website: www.lancswt.org.uk/

How else to dispose of real Christmas tree in Lancashire

Residents who are signed up to Blackburn with Darwen Council's garden waste collection can cut their Christmas trees up and place them in their brown bins to be collected.

You can also take your trees to the tip and place them in the garden waste skips, or pay to have them collected via a paid for bulky collection.

If you live in Hyndburn, you don’t need to book a collection to dispose of your real Christmas tree.

They will transform it into compost or wood chippings. 

Simply place it alongside your recycling on your first collection day from Thursday 6 January.

Pendle Council recommend real trees without decorations to be recycled at either Barnoldswick Household Waste Recycling Centre or Burnley Household Waste Recycling Centre. If you don't want to recycle your tree, then put it out with your grey bin on your normal collection day.

Ribble Valley Council say Christmas trees must be cut up and placed inside your green bin, if you don’t have a green bin please chop up your tree and take it to your collection point or place it (chopped up) alongside your lilac sacks on collection day.

In Rossendale, the collection of the real Christmas trees will take place from 10th - 22nd January 2022 and cost £5 each.

They will shred and recycle the organic material from the trees, avoiding the material being sent to landfill.

Maximum of two trees per booking, maximum height of trees is seven feet and Christmas trees must be outside of the property and easily accessible for collection crews.

Fill out the booking form online.

Age UK Lancashire is also offering Christmas tree collection for a £10 donation (minimum), covering Clitheroe, Whalley, Billington, Langho, Samlesbury, Chatburn, Barrow, Ribchester, Clayton-le-Dale and Copster Green.

Trees will be collected on Saturday 8 January – but you must make your booking before 10pm today (4 January).

For further details on how to dispose of your Christmas tree, visit your council's website or Facebook page.