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Christmas Trees Fight Rising Seas on UK Coast
15 Feb
Summary
- Tens of thousands of Christmas trees form coastal defenses.
- Dunes protect homes and habitats for rare sand lizards.
- Project combats 80% sand dune loss since mid-1800s.
On Britain's Lancashire coast, tens of thousands of discarded Christmas trees are being transformed into natural defenses against rising sea levels. Volunteers bury these trees on beaches, where they naturally morph into protective sand dunes. This innovative approach is crucial as the UK has lost approximately 30% of its sand dunes since 1900, with the Lancashire coast alone losing an estimated 80% since the mid-1800s.
These newly formed dunes serve a dual purpose: safeguarding seafront homes from increased storm surges and providing a habitat for wildlife. Notably, hundreds of sand lizards, a rare reptile unseen in the region for about 60 years, were released into these dunes in 2020 and are now thriving and breeding. The project, which has been ongoing for over three decades, has intensified in the past decade due to accelerating sea-level rise.
Conservationists acknowledge that as sea levels continue to climb, they will need to adapt by building dunes upwards rather than outwards within the next five years. Despite the challenges, the initiative highlights a creative, community-driven solution to climate change impacts, preserving both coastal communities and precious ecosystems.
