A charity that supports people with sight loss is calling on the British public to stop dumping their Christmas trees on the pavement as it creates dangerous obstacles for the visually impaired.
Dramatic pictures taken from different locations across the country by Guide Dogs, based in Bishop’s Tachbrook, Warwickshire, shows discarded trees blocking footpaths and pathways.
Often, this leaves people with a vision impairment no choice but to step into the road, exposing them to oncoming traffic unnecessarily.
Hannah Trussler, Policy and Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs, said: “Christmas trees left on pavements cause a real issue for people with a vision impairment.
“Obstacles blocking the pavement are a nuisance and dangerous for everyone, but potentially dangerous if you are a wheelchair user forced onto the road, pushing a child in a buggy or have sight loss and can’t see traffic coming towards you.”
Britons typically take down their Christmas trees during the first week of January ahead of Twelfth Night, which traditionally marks the end of Christmas.
But the tree problem is fast becoming a regular seasonal issue, impacting disabled people long into January, as many are keeping their Christmas decorations up for longer.
Simon Daws, 62, from Woodbridge, Suffolk has Retinitis Pigmentosa and was registered visually impaired 14-years-ago. Since then, he has been campaigning for better accessibility for people with visual impairments.
Every time Simon steps outside after the festive period, he comes across obstacles on a pavement. He has to take his life into his own hands by stepping into the road without fully being able to see the dangers around him.
This near daily occurrence has left him feeling anxious, upset, unsafe, and even embarrassed about his own visual impairment.
He said: “The mental impact of obstacles on the pathway is a major concern for people with sight loss – think about where you dump your Christmas tree after the festive period, where you put your bins out and where you park your car.
“When I was sighted, I didn’t understand it either, but I very much do now. It’s about trying to get that awareness out to the general public. And it’s not just me, it’s difficult for people with buggies, wheelchairs, elderly people, and everyone else as well.
“It makes you feel pathetic, it should be the simplest thing to walk alone. It just highlights one’s shortcomings. You wish you had more sight. You feel absolutely rubbish.”
Simon says the fear of having to step out into a busy road makes him feel “very unsafe, anxious and angry”.
Guide Dogs are now calling on the public to take a few extra minutes to dispose of their Christmas trees in designated areas to avoid unnecessary obstacles littering the pavement.
Ms Trussler added: “This January, as you take down your decorations, we’re asking people to think about where you dispose of your Christmas tree and ensure that they are not blocking the pavement.”
According to Recycle Now, real trees are recyclable and can be shredded into chippings which are then used locally in parks or woodland area.
Local authorities often arrange drop-off points or special collections of real trees in January, which can be checked on your local authority website.
Artificial trees cannot be recycled as they are made from a combination of materials. But unwanted artificial trees in good condition may be accepted by charity shops for re-sale and re-use.
