GULF SHORES, Ala. (WKRG) — Now that Christmas is over, Gulf State Park wants your tree.
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They are now collecting clean trees, without the lights, tinsel, and ornaments, at the park’s beach pavilion.
“This is a great start for people recycling their Christmas trees,” said Assistant Park Superintendent Kelly Reetz, surveying a pile of trees that have already been dropped off. “We will continue to collect until February 1.”
The branches of the trees trap wind-blown sand, eventually building dunes. “We are seeing growth all along the beach as a result of all the conservation work that we are doing,” said Reetz.
Christmas trees are the perfect way to build dunes that not only help the natural environment but also help protect coastal communities from the next storm.
“The dunes are our first line of defense against storms,” said Reetz. “It also helps to enhance the habitat of a lot of native species and endangered species that live on our beach, like the Alabama beach mouse, nesting shore birds, and sea turtles.”
Park officials hope to collect nearly 400 trees by the end of the month. So, instead of kicking your Christmas tree to the curb, why not take it to the beach instead?…