WIDEMOUTH Task Force, Cormac and Bude Valley Volunteers joined forces with the public over the weekend to install over 150 Christmas trees at Widemouth, creating fences across the sand dunes.

This is used as an annual community project under the criteria for the Blue Flag and Seaside Award applications.

The trees, used in local homes over the Christmas period, are used to create fences across the sand dunes. These fences have been placed in areas where the naturally occurring marram grass has been lost, due to trampling and erosion.

When the marram grass is lost the sand dune becomes bare, meaning it can be blown away and flattened when the wind comes in from the sea.

A ‘serious problem’, it does not only mean that the important sand dune habitat is lost, but it also compromises the dunes as a natural sea defence for Widemouth. Blown sand on the road has always been considered a problem below the Beach House, but became noticeably reduced after the 2016 project placed 80 Christmas trees.

The Christmas tree dune fences help to mitigate this damage by mimicking the action of the marram grass, catching the sand blown on to the dunes from the beach and also dissipating the power of the wind as it blows across the surface of the dunes.

Over time, the trees become buried, which helps to build up the dunes and they also help to partly stabilise the surface of the dunes, which often allows the marram grass to take hold again naturally or helped along by being planted.

Gareth Cann, Cormac countryside ranger, said: “It’s great to see the local community using their old Christmas trees to help to reduce sand dune erosion. This helps the local environment, as well as reducing the amount of rubbish going into landfill.

“Later in the winter, we will coppice willow from the Bude Marshes LNR. This is made into bundles and placed in the sand dunes, which also helps to prevent erosion.”

Duncan Ball, Bude Valley Volunteers co-ordinator, said: “It’s fantastic to be involved in this event. It’s good to see so many people using their old trees for a good cause. There’s a great community spirit!”

Ado Shoreland, founder of Widemouth Task Force, continued: “Thanks to the families who brought trees and to the many volunteers who helped on the project, from tree collections to helping place them. Forty-five of the trees were donated by LightUpBude, which they are happy to continue in 2018. Great teamwork! Loving where we live!”