AFTER a few weeks in the limelight they are usually thrown in the bin or put out to be recycled.

But a zoo near Winchester has adopted a novel way of using old Christmas trees – giving them to animals to help encourage their natural instincts.

Marwell Zoo has been giving tigers, leopards and meerkats a chance to discover the new objects as part of a behavioural enrichment programme at the attraction.

Marc Fox, assistant head keeper, said: “We give our animals activities and new objects to investigate all year.”