Christmas tree collection service will help out zoo
ISLANDERS are being offered the chance to have their Christmas trees collected while donating money to a good cause at the same time.
The Accidental Zoo will collect trees for £10 and the proceeds will go towards looking after the animals in its care.
Charlotte and Ryan Le Guilcher set the zoo up almost by chance three years ago. They are in the process of applying for charitable status for it.
‘We had a house in Town with a small garden and we wanted somewhere that the children could run around,’ said Mrs Le Guilcher.
‘We were keeping chickens and ducks at an allotment at the time. When we moved up here [to the Castel] we bought goats for the children for Christmas and then lambs and it really went from there.’
Other animals include geese, a turkey, a calf and emus.
‘People started asking if they could come and have a look and we now have family and open days. We go into the schools and also work with youth and charity groups.’
Some 200 people have already asked for their Christmas trees to be collected and Mrs Le Guilcher said nothing would be wasted.
‘The goats will eat the needles, which is a natural wormer for them.
‘Some trees will be chipped and used for bedding in the duckling runs or to stabilise muddy areas in the field.
‘Some of the trunks will be sliced so children can make things such as key rings on activity days.’
Local craftsman have also offered to make objects from the wood and make donations from the proceeds of sale to the zoo.
The couple said they were grateful to Regency Events, who had allowed them the use of a low loader to help with tree collection.
Anyone wishing to dispose of their trees in this way can arrange to do so by going to The Accidental Zoo’s Facebook page or by emailing info@theaccidentalzoo.gg
The service will run until 12 January and collections will take place in certain parishes on certain days.
Christmas trees can also be dropped off for free at the following places until the end of January:
Queux Plant Centre, Le Friquet Garden Centre, Chouet Green Waste site and the Longue Hougue household waste & recycling centre. The scheme run by the States traditionally gets about 6,000 trees each year.
States recycling officer Tina Norman-Ross said the take up had been slow in the first few days compared to other years but she was confident it would pick up.
‘Speaking purely anecdotally, it may be that people who normally dispose of their trees soon after Christmas before going away for new year will not be travelling this year,’ she said. ‘The Accidental Zoo scheme is a good way to make use of Christmas trees and some might choose to use that.’
