Czech Christmas Tradition--Decorating a Tree for the Animals

I don't know how traditional this really is here in the Czech Republic, but one of my students was telling me about her Christmas traditions, and how on the Dec 26 they always go on a walk in the woods and decorate a tree for the animals, using nuts and fruits and such.  I'd never heard of such a thing, and asked her if it was traditional.  She said she didn't really think so, but her family had always done it.  Then, a couple of weeks later, I was at Hluboká nad Vltavou (most of the way across the country), walking around the extensive forested castle grounds, and came upon this:

Those are apples and net bags of seeds. Underneath a nearby tree was a pile of carrots, parsnips, potatoes, bread, etc.  So I guess the tradition is alive and well!