This year over 2,500 Christmas trees, donated by the local community and collected by Trinity Hospice, have been given a new lease of life and are now playing an important role in protecting and extending Fylde’s sand dunes. This huge total of trees is the highest annual number of trees ever collected! Additionally and importantly, at this challenging time, essential funds have been raised for Trinity Hospice through this annual environmental project. Over the years, over 11,000 old and discarded Christmas trees have provided much valued support for our coastal defences.
The task of embedding the trees this year is being carried out by a small operational team from Fylde Council to reduce the risk of coronavirus.
On behalf of the Fylde Sand Dunes Project, a spokesperson issued this statement of thanks and explanation with regard to the planting of the trees: ‘Unfortunately this year’s annual Christmas tree planting event is no different. In the interest of safety it has been decided that the event will not go ahead with volunteers in any capacity due to the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
Fear not though the work will continue. This year has seen a record number of trees collected this year, 2500+, which is in fact more than in any of the past 9 years the Christmas tree planting project started. It is essential that these trees are buried to catch the sand blowing in from the strong onshore winds we have been having recently. Therefore, a small operational team from Fylde Council will be out there working hard and in the safest manner possible to ensure these trees go in to provide added coastal protection for our fantastic community.
With more trees, and significantly less helping hands, it will take some time for the team to work their way through burying the trees, so please be patient. If you are out walking on the beach for your daily exercise, please give them a wave!
Fylde Sand Dunes project will be posting pictures and regular updates on their social media channels so you can all stay involved and feel a part of the team once more! As volunteer participation cannot take place this year, please could we ask you all to support the project in a different way, from the comfort of your home. Fylde Sand Dunes Project has a strong social media presence so please follow us and share their posts to keep up to date with what is happening. You can help to spread the word that this year that although community engagement is restricted there is still work ongoing to protect the dunes and coastal environment.
We would like to thank all of our volunteers for your continued support in this uncertain time and hope that you understand the decision and we sincerely hope the event will be able to take place in Jan/Feb 2022.’
