Every year thousands of Christmas trees are used to help prevent the erosion of Formby’s sand dunes. The coast here is undergoing erosion and the tides often reveal prehistoric mud layers, some of which contain human and animal footprints. The National Trust organises the tree planting – using leftover Christmas trees from Homebase to preserve the dunes on the coast. With up to 5,000 trees arriving on January 13, teams of staff and volunteers use the trees to create more than a mile of brush fencing. “The trees are placed in rows in areas where the dunes are most vulnerable to help catch the sand as the wind blows it over the dunes. The sand builds up around the trees and, once buried, the trees then bind the dune together.” – Mike Unsworth, NT team. The beach at Formby in Liverpool & Southport is famous for its dramatic sand dunes, surrounded by sweeping coastal pinewoods that brave the relentless winds all through the year. Red squirrels, natterjacks, prehistoric footprints and miles of coastal walks are all part of Formby's ever-changing landscape.
