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· collected 2026-09-06 · by TOI World Desk
Since 2013, discarded Christmas trees have been used in a project on St Annes beach in Lancashire, UK, where they trap wind-blown sand and help build wider dunes. Over 2,000 trees were collected last year and helped create a 90-metre increase in the width of the Fylde Sand Dune system. The Fylde Sand Dunes Project, which involves Fydle Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, and Blackpool Council, aims to restore and conserve the coastal dunes. This is done by placing trees in front of existing dunes, where their branches slow down the wind and trap sand, eventually becoming part of a new dune.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Discarded Christmas trees are being used to help protect homes and businesses along the Fylde Coast in Lancashire, UK.
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trees → discard → Lancashire
Since the project began in 2013, old Christmas trees have been placed on St Annes beach to trap wind-blown sand and help build wider sand dunes.
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trees → begin → dunes
According to Fydle Council, the annual work is part of the Fylde Sand Dunes Project, which aims to restore and conserve the coastal dunes.
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which → accord → dunes
Fylde Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Blackpool Council work together on the project, which is funded by the Environment Agency.
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which → work → Agency
Trees are placed in front of the existing dunes, where their branches slow down the wind and trap sand.
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branches → place → sand
As more sand collects around the trees, the mound grows and can eventually become part of a new dune.
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mound → collect → dune
The project has already produced a visible change.
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project → produce → change
Last year, more than 2,000 Christmas trees were collected from residents and used in the planting work.
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trees → collect → work
According to the council, this helped create a 90-metre increase in the width of the Fylde Sand Dune system.
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this → accord → system
Christmas trees build dunes
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trees → build → dunes
Sand dunes naturally develop when wind-blown sand is trapped by an obstruction on the beach.
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sand → develop → beach
At first, the collected sand can be unstable and may collapse.
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sand → collect → ?
Plants can then begin growing in small pockets of sand and help hold the material in place.
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Plants → begin → place
At St Annes, discarded Christmas trees act as the first obstruction.
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trees → discard → obstruction
Their branches catch sand carried inland by the wind.
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branches → catch → wind
Over time, more sand becomes trapped around the trees, allowing the dune to grow.
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dune → trap → trees
The process then continues naturally.
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process → continue → ?
Pioneer grasses such as sand couch and lyme grass can grow in the dunes.
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grasses → grow → dunes
Marram grass can later become more dominant as sand builds around it.
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sand → become → it
Its growth helps stabilise the new dune, allowing more plants to establish.
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plants → help → dune
As the plants grow and spread, they help hold more sand in place.
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they → grow → place
Eventually, organic matter from plants that die and decay builds up.
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that → die → plants
The dune becomes more stable and develops into a habitat with different plants and animals.
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dune → become → plants
Why dunes matter
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dunes → matter → ?
Dunes act as a natural, or ‘soft’, sea defence.
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Dunes → act → defence
During storms, they absorb some of the energy from the sea.
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they → absorb → sea
Wider dunes are more effective at providing this protection.
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dunes → provide → protection
The dunes help reduce the risk of erosion caused by storm surges, which happen when strong winds combine with high tides.
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winds → help → tides
According to the Fylde Council, more than 80% of the dunes have been lost over the past 150 years because of coastal development.
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% → accord → development
The remaining dunes are now squeezed between the sea and nearby towns.
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dunes → remain → sea
This makes protecting and extending them important for both coastal communities and wildlife.
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protecting → make → communities
Amy Pennington, Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Fylde Sand Dunes Project Senior Engagement Officer, said the dunes provide habitat for a wide range of plants and animals and also act as a soft sea defence.
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dunes → say → defence
“The sand dunes along the Fylde Coast are home to a diverse and specialised ecosystem, hosting a variety of unique plants and animals,” she said.
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she → host → plants
A habitat for plants and wildlife
The dunes have been designated as a Biological Heritage Site and are also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
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dunes → designate → Interest
They support specialised plants and animals that are adapted to the dry and shifting conditions of a sand dune environment.
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that → support → environment
Species found in the dunes include dune helleborine orchids, Isle of Man cabbage, dune pansies, sea holly and round-leaved wintergreen.
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Species → find → Man
Wildlife includes the grayling butterfly, mining bees, common lizards, skylarks, linnets and reed buntings.
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Wildlife → include → butterfly
The environment changes as the dunes develop.
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dunes → change → ?
Areas closer to the beach can have alkaline conditions because the sand contains pieces of sea shells.
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sand → have → shells
Further inland, the ground can become more acidic as the dune matures, allowing different plants to grow.
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plants → become → ?
…and 9 more, not listed.
