Now that the holiday festivities have wrapped up, and the ornaments have been safely tucked away, you might be wondering what to do with that live Christmas tree now standing forlornly in your living room. Fear not, because Surfside Beach has a festive solution that doesn’t involve curbside disposal or taking up valuable space in a landfill. Enter “Dunes Day” – a post-holiday tradition that not only gives your tree a second life but also contributes to the resilience of Surfside Beach’s dunes.
For decades, the Save Our Beach Association has been spearheading this initiative. Every January, they collect recycled Christmas trees and transport them to the beach, where these festive castaways find a new purpose in the ongoing battle to protect the coastline.
“We’ve got something that you can actually do that will help the environment, help the beach, and help actually preserve a bit of Texas,” Robert Booth, president of Save Our Beach Association said. “We have a lot of erosion going on down here. And Christmas trees help us rebuild the dunes which help us push the beach further out into the Gulf.”
The magic begins when those once glittering evergreens are strategically placed at the face of the dunes. It’s not just a strange sight – there’s a method to this madness. The Christmas trees play a crucial role in the restoration process, enhancing sand accretion by trapping sediment with their branches. This simple, yet effective, technique shields the delicate vegetation of the dunes, ensuring they stand strong against the relentless forces of wind and water.
“It’s kind of a form of permaculture gardening,” Booth said. “The trees are beautiful. They’re some of the best trees in the world for catching the sand. The sand is picked up by the wind as singular grains. They hit the tree and then those sand grains fall to the beach and then they build up around the tree. The tree absorbs rainwater and holds it to when the sand around it dries out it starts to release water into the sand and that helps vegetation grow in the sand and one of the best things for preserving a dune is live vegetation.”
Why all the fuss about dunes, you ask? Coastal dunes aren’t just nature’s sand art; they’re the unsung heroes shielding beach communities from the wrath of storms and hurricanes. Think of them as Mother Nature’s first line of defense. The undulating hills of sand and resilient shrubs form a critical barrier, absorbing the impact of pounding waves and fierce winds before they can wreak havoc on inland areas.
But it’s not just about protection; dunes also serve as a haven for a diverse array of flora and fauna. These natural habitats are vital for the survival and flourishing of numerous species, contributing to the overall health of the coastal ecosystem.
Now, you might be wondering how you can join this wave of goodwill. It’s simple – recycle your Christmas tree! The Save Our Beach Association is eagerly accepting donations of your trees. Here’s the rundown:
- Remove all stands: Remove any stands attached to your tree.
- Strip away all decorations and lights: Let your tree go au naturel – no tinsel, ornaments, or fairy lights.
- Deliver to the main beach entrance parking lot off Hwy 332: Take your tree to the designated drop-off point, ensuring it finds its place in the grand restoration scheme.
But wait, there’s more! If you’re eager to get hands-on with the magic of Dunes Day, the Save Our Beach Association is extending a warm invitation for volunteers to join the restoration extravaganza. Picture yourself on the sandy shores, working side by side with fellow community members to stake down and tie down those donated Christmas trees, ensuring they become steadfast guardians of the dunes. Mark your calendars for Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and fear not about lugging tools or munching on a sandy sandwich because the association’s got it covered – they’ll supply all the materials you need. After the hard work is done, a meal courtesy of the association awaits.
So, as you bid farewell to your Christmas tree, remember, it’s not a goodbye; it’s a “see you later” as your tree embarks on a new adventure, contributing to the resilience and beauty of Surfside Beach.
“We do have a good number of people who come here for the beach,” Booth said. “And those of us who live here are fortunate enough to be stewards of this beach for the state of Texas and we try to do what we can to maintain it for everyone in the state of Texas.”