Christmas Tree Planting 2026
'Tis the season to give back to nature! 🎄
It's that tree-mendous time of the year when we ask you to bring your old Christmas trees to the Fylde coast so we can use them to help grow and stabilise our dunes!
Why do we bury Christmas trees?
The sand dunes along the Fylde Coast are home to a diverse and specialised ecosystem, hosting a variety of unique plants and animals. These dunes, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), play a crucial role in providing habitat for flora and fauna of international and national importance. Additionally, they serve as an effective soft sea defence for our local community.
Sadly, over the past 150 years, we've lost more than 80% of our dunes due to coastal town expansion. The Fylde Sand Dunes Project, funded by the Environment Agency, aims to restore and conserve these dunes by growing them seawards to enhance their effectiveness as a natural sea defence.
Here's where your old Christmas trees come in! These trees, donated by you, are strategically placed in front of our existing dunes. As the wind blows, the branches of the trees trap sand, gradually creating new dunes. Last year, we received over 2000 trees, and thanks to your generosity, we've witnessed an impressive 90-metre increase in the width of the Fylde Sand Dune system.
2026 Christmas Tree Planting
How Can You Get Involved?
Ready to spread some post-holiday cheer? You can get involved in a number of different ways:
- Donate your Christmas tree to be recycled in the sand dunes
- Volunteer to help bury the Christmas trees during our annual Christmas tree planting event
Please expand the tabs below for more information:
Find out more
Click on the "Donate your Christmas tree to be recycled in the sand dunes" and "Volunteer to help bury the Christmas trees during our annual Christmas tree planting event" titles below to find out more about donating your tree or getting involved in our annual event.
Donate your Christmas tree to be recycled in the sand dunes
Here's how you can get involved:
- Drop-Off Locations Across Fylde: Bring your Christmas trees to any of our convenient satellite sites across the Fylde between 2rd - 12th January 2026. The drop off locations this year include North Beach Car Park in St Annes or William Segar Hodgson Park in Kirkham. For more information on Fylde Council's drop-off sites, please click the link here🔗
- Drop-Off Location in Blackpool: Bring your Christmas tree to the main car park at Blackpool Zoo (East Park Drive, Blackpool, FY3 8PP) between 1st – 18th January 2026. The tree drop-off point will be clearly signposted within the car park.
- Doorstep Collection for Fylde Residents: Fylde residents (all FY post codes and the PR4 post code) can enjoy the convenience of a doorstep collection from Trinity Hospice. This not only benefits the environment but also supports the charity. Volunteers will be collecting real Christmas trees on 9th, 10th & 11th January 2026 from households in exchange for a donation to Trinity Hospice. Register your tree (from 15th November 2025 - 5th January 2026) with Trinity Hospice for a doorstep collection. All the details can be found here🔗
- Doorstep Collection for Preston, Leyland & Chorley Residents: If you're a resident (in the PR5, PR6, PR7, PR25 and PR26 area), you can arrange a doorstep collection between 6th - 8th January 2026 by volunteers from Derian House Children’s Hospice. For £15, Derian house will recycle your Christmas tree and drop it off at North Beach Car Park for us to recycle on the sand dunes. All proceeds will go to help the children and families of Derian House Children’s Hospice. Register for a collection by Derian House by using the link here 🔗
- Doorstep Collection for the Ribble Valley and North Preston: If you're a resident in Longridge, Goosnargh, Grimsargh, Barton, Knowle Green, Cottam, Woodplumpton, Ashton, Fulwood, Broughton, or Ribchester you can arrange a doorstep collection from The Rotary Club of Longridge and North Preston. For £10 per tree, The Rotary Club will recycle your Christmas tree and drop it off at North Beach Car Park for us to recycle on the sand dunes (proceeds will go to charity). Volunteers will be collecting Christmas trees on 10th January 2026. Register for a collection by The Rotary Club by using the link here 🔗
Feeling more hands-on? Join us in our annual Christmas tree planting event! Details below.
Volunteer to help bury the Christmas trees during our annual Christmas tree planting event
Join the Fun: Transforming Trees into Dunes! 🌲🏖️
Get ready for a tree-mendous adventure as we turn your old Christmas trees into brand new sand dunes!
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 11th & Thursday 12th February 2026
- Time: 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
- Location: North Beach, St Anne’s (FY8 2TR)
How It Works: Your donated trees aren't just recycled; they're strategically placed in front of existing dunes. As the wind dances through, the branches work their magic, trapping sand and creating stunning new dunes along our coast.
Our Christmas tree planting event is a blast! There's a role for everyone, no matter your skills or strength. Check out the exciting tasks you can dive into:
1. Christmas Tree Planting:
- Gently place a Christmas tree in a pre-dug trench – teamwork makes the dream work!
- Ensure the tree strikes a 45-degree angle with the top facing the sea.
- Backfill the trench around the tree using a spade.
- Double-check the tree's stability; if it's feeling wobbly, add more sand for extra security.
- Flatten the sand with your feet or a rake.
2. Thatching:
- Carefully chop branches off a Christmas tree with loppers
- Find a bare sandy spot, dig a hole, and stick the woody end of the branch into the sand.
- Secure the branches in place, and voila – you've just contributed to growing our dunes!
This isn't just about recycling trees; it's about creating a better coastal defence and habitats. So, roll up your sleeves and let's make the coast better together!
Book your place here:
Christmas Tree Event Booking 2026
If you're representing a group from your organisation, business, department, project, or school, please don't book online, instead, email us with a list of attendee names/numbers and your preferred dates: apennington@lancswt.org.uk.
To help us manage bookings effectively, a booking deadline of Friday 19th December has been set this year.
Please note that any requests received after this date will not be accommodated, so we encourage everyone to submit their booking requests before the deadline to avoid disappointment.
Note: Your booking can be amended at any time, but having an idea of attendance in advance helps us manage the event more effectively.
Your support is invaluable in building a more resilient Fylde Coast. Let's make a positive impact together!
Thank you for being a part of this meaningful initiative!