Monday 13 February 2012
Christmas trees will be recycled this week (Thursday 16 February 2012) to start a new lease of life as coastal protection. The Environment Department is working with the Public Services Department and will use old Christmas trees to restore some of the island's natural coastal defences, by using them to repair sand dunes at Grandes Rocques.
Sand dunes are vulnerable to damage during the storms but also from human pressure as people walk through them to get on to the beach. The Grandes Rocques dunes are planted with Marram Grass and although robust against wind and weather, the plant is easily damaged if trampled and will often die. As paths and then gaps form when the plants die the dune becomes more susceptible in bad weather. A severe storm can cause a 'blow out' - this is when considerable quantities of sand are lost from the dune and in extreme weather conditions a blow out could allow the sea to breach the dune.
The restoration work at Grandes Rocques is particularly important as the dunes form the natural coastal defence between the beach and the coast road. Christmas trees will be 'planted' on their sides in shallow trenches in gaps and eroded areas on the beach side of the dunes. The trees will help trap wind-blown sand and eventually the trees will be covered, allowing vegetation to grow and stabilise the sand.
The work will be undertaken by Environment Guernsey (the commercial arm of La Societe Guernesiaise. The new project at Grandes Rocques follows the dune restoration by Environment Guernsey at Vazon Richmond, which has succeeded in significantly reducing the quantities of sand which were previously blown across the coast road from the beach.
Deputy Peter Sirett, Environment Department Minister said:
"Christmas trees are a natural material and are ideal for this type of restoration work on damaged dunes. We are delighted to be able to make use of the trees for such an important project - and at virtually no cost. Once the work is complete we would make a plea for people to keep to the designated paths to prevent further damage to the dune vegetation and so help prevent future erosion."
Contact Information:
Environmental Services Unit
Environment Department
Tel: 01481 717 200
