ENVIRONMENT concious parks staff are planning to put trees ravaged by recent storms to good use.

The idea is to make trees uprooted by high winds into woodland paths and protective mulch.

Altogether 98 trees in Blackpool's parks were torn out from their roots and many others lost branches in the gales.

The mulch will be used to nourish the 2,300 young trees recently planted by schools and two football teams as part of the council's Branching Out For Blackpool initiative.

It is hoped the saplings will benefit from the mulch which helps to suppress weeds and to retain moisture.

Blackpool's client services manager Dave Dixon-Smith said grounds maintenance staff were busy ensuring that no damaged trees posed a danger to the public.

He added: "We expect it will take several weeks to fully repair the damage which has been caused to date.

"It is a pity the trees have been destroyed in this way, but at least recycling them means we can put them to good use.

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