East Devon District Council has collected and chipped down a total of 1,699 Christmas trees for use in community projects.

Rather than go to waste, the trees will be used for purposes including maintaining pathways at St Martin’s Primary School in Cranbrook, in order to protect tree roots, retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth.

Over the past two years, tree chippings have helped to slow the spread of Ash Dieback within the school’s estate, protecting local ash trees.