Instead of them being thrown away, over 300 Christmas trees were planted into the sand at Widemouth Bay on Saturday, January 5 to create a protective barrier against erosion.

The annual event, organised by Ado Shorland of Widemouth Task Force and Gareth Cann, Cormac senior countryside officer, sees families from Bude and beyond lug their old Christmas tree on 12th night to Widemouth Bay.

They planted 330 trees to form a protective barrier against erosion for the beach. The trees stabilise the sand, forming a firm foundation for marram grass to be planted, protecting the coastline and creating a new wildlife habitat where plants and fauna can establish over time.

Gareth said: “This is an environmentally sustainable way for the local community to re-use their Christmas trees. The trees are planted in rows, which helps to trap sand and stabilise the dunes, preventing erosion. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this event.”