As the festive season winds down and households bid farewell to their Christmas trees, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) proposes an environmentally friendly solution for disposing of live trees.

According to Andrew Holland, spokesperson for the NCC, residents opting for natural Christmas trees can contribute to conservation efforts through a simple post-holiday act.

"The Nature Conservancy of Canada suggests recycling it in your backyard even for the winter months," he said. "It can provide important habitat for bird populations, especially on cold nights and during storms. We call it a small act of conservation."

He emphasized that this seemingly small gesture can significantly impact local wildlife, particularly in providing warmth for birds.

Individuals can hang peanut butter-filled pine cones or set up bird feeders near the repurposed Christmas trees. While people often think of feeding birds during other seasons, the winter months are critical as well.

"Blue jays, black-capped chickadees, cardinals--those are just some birds that try to hack our tough winter climate in the prairies," said Holland. "We can put on some long johns and an extra layer, but they can't."

The NCC recommends lending the tree to nature for about four months. When the City of Swift Current conducts its yard waste program in the spring, residents can opt to drop off the remains at that time.

Alternatively, they can extend the life of their purchase even more; the branches—now void of needles—can be integrated into backyard gardens. Placing the trunk in the soil allows it to decompose over time, enriching the soil with organic matter.

Returning trees to the earth is a small but meaningful contribution to wildlife conservation. When the winter weather settles in, the NCC hopes families will embrace the green approach to tree disposal.