A farm owner has found a novel way of recycling Christmas trees - by feeding them to her herd of alpacas.<br /><br />Charlotte Traynor, 54, was inundated with dozens of spurned firs after putting up a Facebook post offering to take them in.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />After putting out a request on social media, scores of locals near her farm in Blackpool, Lancs., answered her call and donated unwanted trees, which are rich in vitamins.<br /><br />Charlotte said: “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.<br /><br />"The previous year, I’d read an article about it. We gave them our own Christmas tree and they really enjoyed it. <br /><br />“I put a post on Facebook, and I was inundated with Christmas trees."<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Filmed in January 2022.
