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Appeal for Christmas trees to feed alpacas

Natalie Bell/ BBC A photo of Natalie Neadley smiling into the camera. She is wearing a navy coat and has long blonde hair. Christmas trees lay on the grass behind her on the left and on the right is a herd of alpacas.Natalie Bell/ BBC
Animal park owner Natalie Neadley said it is a great way to recycle Christmas trees

An animal park using Christmas trees as food for its alpacas and goats is appealing for more to be donated.

Ings Park Alpacas, near North Cave in East Yorkshire, is encouraging people to bring their trees to the farm on Saturday and Sunday having already received almost 100 donations.

Owner Natalie Neadley said the trees are a good source of nutrition and fibre for its animals.

She said: "They have vitamin C, antioxidants and it's like a wormer for the animals. It's been fabulous to see people really pulling together and helping us out."

Ms Neadley said they use the trees to feed sheep as well over winter and they make fun additions to their pens.

In 2024, the animal park received about 300 donations and the trees lasted for three months.

Natalie Bell/ BBC Four goats looking through barbed wire fencing. Christmas trees lay on the grass behind. Natalie Bell/ BBC
The trees are a good source of nutrition and fibre for the animals

"It seems a shame to chop a Christmas tree down every year and then it just go in the tip," Ms Neadley added.

"This way you can actually think about recycling and giving it a different home and somewhere that it's actually going to be utilised for good."

As well as donating the trees, people can then feed them to the animals themselves, the park added.

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