Farm owner recycles Christmas trees by feeding them to alpacas

By Douglas Whitbread via SWNS

A farm owner has found a novel way of recycling Christmas trees: by feeding them to her herd of alpacas.

Charlotte Traynor, 54, was inundated with dozens of spurned firs after putting up a Facebook post offering to take them in.

She came up with the creative way of getting rid of winter spruces after she gave her 42-strong herd her own tree a few years ago.

“Christmas trees are not their natural food, just a supplement to their existing diet. But they’re a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants,"Charlotte said.

"The previous year, I’d read an article about it. We gave them our own Christmas tree and they really enjoyed it.

She had read in an article that the Nordic pines were a useful dietary supplement and was thrilled when the animals, native to South America, devoured their prickly needles.

After putting out a request on social media, scores of locals near her farm in Blackpool, England answered her call and donated unwanted trees, which are rich in vitamins.

“I put a post on Facebook, and I was inundated with Christmas trees," she said.

Charlotte offers animal therapy and guided walk at her stud at Lowlands Farm which along with the alpacas also has four sheep and six horses.

But she said the Christmas tree-munching alpacas have become a big hit with locals, who love to see them tucking into their old festive firs.

“We are an actual alpaca farm, so we do walks and experiences and animal-assisted therapy," she said.

“But when people drop off their Christmas tree, we’re more than happy for them to pop in and have a look at the alpacas.

"People love it – they get to come and see the alpacas and it’s also a great way of recycling trees.”