\nWhen the holiday season is drawing to a close, it doesn’t mean we have to say goodbye to our Christmas trees. There are plenty of smart, eco-friendly methods to recycle actual trees for those of us who chose them.\n
According to startling figures, six million Christmas trees are thrown away each year, with 250 tonnes of trees dumped after the holidays. The good news is that you don’t have to toss your tree in the trash as soon as January arrives; there are plenty of innovative ways to make it last longer.\n
Take a look at some of the things you can do with your Christmas tree after the holidays are over…\n
Cut off the branches, cover them in butter or margarine and then roll them in bird seeds. Grab some brown string and hang the branch in your garden. It won\u2019t be long before you see plenty of tweeting birds stopping by for a tasty treat.\n
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Why not upgrade your garden space with a creative touch and give your Christmas tree trunks a new purpose? Simply cut the trunks into small circles and use them as an edge around your garden. If you\u2019re feeling a bit more creative, you can even sand down the trunks into small circles, cover them with polish and turn them cleverly into coasters.\n
Cling onto the scent of Christmas for that little bit longer by popping the pine needles into small fabric bags. You can make these easily yourself by reusing any leftover fabrics at home and stitching some velvet ribbon around the top to make a little tie. Once you\u2019ve done that, simply pop in the pine needles and tighten shut. We recommend placing them at the back of your wardrobe or drawers for a fresh, winter scent. Brilliant to gift to friends, too.\n
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Wreaths can be beautifully hung on your front door all round, not simply just at Christmas. Making your branches into a wreath is a wonderful way to repurpose your tree \u2014 and get creative in January. You\u2019ll need binding wire, scissors, additional flowers (if you\u2019d like to put them on) and craft foam, to make the wreath last longer.\n
Many local Boy Scouts collect real Christmas trees as part of fundraising projects. Why not donate yours to help those who are giving them a second chance. “Many councils offer special Christmas treecycling services and so I\u2019d urge local people to find out what schemes are running in their area,” Marcus Jones, Local Government Minister explains, urging people to not throw their trees away.\n
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One of the easiest things for us to do \u2014 given we have the garden space \u2014 is to replant our trees outside. Nurture it well and you might just be able to bring it back indoors for Christmas next year. With millions of trees thrown away at the end of each festive season, replanting them is something great you can do to help the environment at this time of year.\n
Put your Christmas tree needles to good use by adding them to your compost heap. Make sure to only use a small amount, as rubbery needles can take a long time to break down. As well as the needles, you can also put the whole Christmas tree on the compost, as long as you cut it down into small pieces first.\n
A British winter can be tough on animals. If you’re not sure what to do with your real Christmas tree after the festivities, consider placing it in a sheltered spot in the garden for creatures to nestle in. Wild animals have many different ways to survive plummeting temperatures, but your old tree can help provide additional warmth.\n
You can also…\n
\u2022 Chop it up to use for firewood\n
\u2022 Add a few pine needles to your favourite warming winter dishes\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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