The trust is collecting cards to raise money for new trees to be planted

The Woodland Trust has set up card collection points at Tesco and WH Smith stores throughout the county.

Meanwhile, Christmas trees can be taken to recycling centres at Blandford and Shaftesbury or left by householders' brown bins to be taken for composting.

The trust estimates that a million used Christmas cards could be sent to landfill sites this year in the UK.

Trees for All

Gemma Coles, waste reduction manager at East Dorset District Council, said: "The number of cards sent each year is rising, along with our production of waste.

"To reuse is better than to recycle, so get creative and make some gift tags out of your old Christmas cards, for next year."

Last year the Woodland Trust recycled 45 million Christmas cards, the equivalent of 15,011 trees.

Funds raised will support their new Trees for All campaign, which aims to give every child in the UK the chance to plant a tree.