The 12 Green Days of Christmas
Enjoy a less wasteful
festive season with 12 tips
for greener gifts and celebrations
from Penistone Friends of the Earth
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...a native crab-apple tree
The Woodland Trust sells native trees for all sizes of garden at www.native-tree-shop.com, or instead dedicate a tree for a friend at one of twenty sites across the country by calling
0800 026 9650.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...two kites above
Buying from the RSPB's Christmas catalogue will help support its important work in re-introducing endangered red kites to England. Or why not help the fight against egg snatchers by sending the 'virtual gift' of a forensic nest marker?
www.shopping.rspb.org.uk
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...three fountain pens
Take a stand against our throwaway culture: write your (recycled!) Christmas cards with a refillable fountain pen rather than a disposable ballpoint. They also make beautiful presents, but choose one which refills with bottled ink rather than plastic cartridges.
festive season with 12 tips
for greener gifts and celebrations
from Penistone Friends of the Earth
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...a native crab-apple tree
The Woodland Trust sells native trees for all sizes of garden at www.native-tree-shop.com, or instead dedicate a tree for a friend at one of twenty sites across the country by calling
0800 026 9650.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...two kites above
Buying from the RSPB's Christmas catalogue will help support its important work in re-introducing endangered red kites to England. Or why not help the fight against egg snatchers by sending the 'virtual gift' of a forensic nest marker?
www.shopping.rspb.org.uk
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...three fountain pens
Take a stand against our throwaway culture: write your (recycled!) Christmas cards with a refillable fountain pen rather than a disposable ballpoint. They also make beautiful presents, but choose one which refills with bottled ink rather than plastic cartridges.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...seven meals with trimmings
Try and opt for seasonal produce from local farms or markets: this helps the local economy and cuts down on food miles, which contribute to climate change. Resist the temptation to buy too much by planning menus in advance: in the UK around a third of the food we buy is wasted. Consider a goose rather than a turkey - just the right size to feed four to six with no waste.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...eight goats a-milking
Changing weather patterns affect the poorest on the planet first. Transform lives this Christmas by buying a goat for a struggling rural family in Pakistan at www.oxfamunwrapped.com or tel: 0870 410 5030
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...nine nights out dancing
Cut down on wrapping paper and all the energy used in manufacturing and transporting goods by giving theatre tickets, cinema tokens or gifts in kind. How about a night out, or an offer of baby-sitting or gardening? For an unforgettable present with a difference, The People's Trust for Endangered Species offer 'Wildlife Encounter' vouchers. See www.ptes.org/shop.
...seven meals with trimmings
Try and opt for seasonal produce from local farms or markets: this helps the local economy and cuts down on food miles, which contribute to climate change. Resist the temptation to buy too much by planning menus in advance: in the UK around a third of the food we buy is wasted. Consider a goose rather than a turkey - just the right size to feed four to six with no waste.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...eight goats a-milking
Changing weather patterns affect the poorest on the planet first. Transform lives this Christmas by buying a goat for a struggling rural family in Pakistan at www.oxfamunwrapped.com or tel: 0870 410 5030
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...nine nights out dancing
Cut down on wrapping paper and all the energy used in manufacturing and transporting goods by giving theatre tickets, cinema tokens or gifts in kind. How about a night out, or an offer of baby-sitting or gardening? For an unforgettable present with a difference, The People's Trust for Endangered Species offer 'Wildlife Encounter' vouchers. See www.ptes.org/shop.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...four lemon curds
Avoid gifts that clutter up cupboards: give food instead. Make up your own hamper of local produce from Penistone's Country Market (every Thursday morning) or Farmers' Market (second Saturday of each month).
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...five antique rings
Second-hand jewellery, books and paintings all make great gifts and are truly eco-friendly. On line check out Amazon, Abebooks or ebay, or visit charity shops.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...six children playing
Shop thoughtfully for children, trying to pick presents that will last, avoiding toys with batteries or excessive packaging and choosing natural materials rather than synthetics and plastic.
Try www.fairwind.com, www.spiritofnature.co.uk or www.tearcraft.org for great ranges of ethically sourced toys for younger children. For older ones the Centre for Alternative Technology www.cat.org.uk sells entertaining books and interactive science kits.
...four lemon curds
Avoid gifts that clutter up cupboards: give food instead. Make up your own hamper of local produce from Penistone's Country Market (every Thursday morning) or Farmers' Market (second Saturday of each month).
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...five antique rings
Second-hand jewellery, books and paintings all make great gifts and are truly eco-friendly. On line check out Amazon, Abebooks or ebay, or visit charity shops.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...six children playing
Shop thoughtfully for children, trying to pick presents that will last, avoiding toys with batteries or excessive packaging and choosing natural materials rather than synthetics and plastic.
Try www.fairwind.com, www.spiritofnature.co.uk or www.tearcraft.org for great ranges of ethically sourced toys for younger children. For older ones the Centre for Alternative Technology www.cat.org.uk sells entertaining books and interactive science kits.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...ten worms a-creeping
An ideal present for an impatient gardener, a wormery speeds up the composting process and produces a steady supply of liquid plant feed. Browse the selection at www.wigglywigglers.co.uk, where you'll also find spectacular seasonal bouquets, filled with foliage and blooms grown in the English countryside.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me..
...eleven cards recycling
After Christmas, don't bin your old cards. Cut them up to use as next year's gift tags and use the backs to write shopping lists or notes to your milkman! After re-use cards can be composted at home (along with shredded wrapping paper and your fruit and veg peelings), or recycled in your blue bin (if glitter-free!), at recycling centres and until the end of January at WHSmith and Tesco in a scheme run by the Woodland Trust.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...twelve bees a-humming
Help to stop the decline the bumble bee and red mason bee this Christmas. Create a bee hamper for a nature lover with seeds or flowering plants (avoid showy double flowered varieties - old cottage garden favourites like scabious, knapweed and foxgloves, are best) and a bug box to help bees and other insects overwinter.
See www.shopping.rspb.org.uk or www.wigglywigglers.co.uk for good ranges.
Have a happy Christmas!
...ten worms a-creeping
An ideal present for an impatient gardener, a wormery speeds up the composting process and produces a steady supply of liquid plant feed. Browse the selection at www.wigglywigglers.co.uk, where you'll also find spectacular seasonal bouquets, filled with foliage and blooms grown in the English countryside.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me..
...eleven cards recycling
After Christmas, don't bin your old cards. Cut them up to use as next year's gift tags and use the backs to write shopping lists or notes to your milkman! After re-use cards can be composted at home (along with shredded wrapping paper and your fruit and veg peelings), or recycled in your blue bin (if glitter-free!), at recycling centres and until the end of January at WHSmith and Tesco in a scheme run by the Woodland Trust.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me...
...twelve bees a-humming
Help to stop the decline the bumble bee and red mason bee this Christmas. Create a bee hamper for a nature lover with seeds or flowering plants (avoid showy double flowered varieties - old cottage garden favourites like scabious, knapweed and foxgloves, are best) and a bug box to help bees and other insects overwinter.
See www.shopping.rspb.org.uk or www.wigglywigglers.co.uk for good ranges.
Have a happy Christmas!
