...Oh Christmas Tree, How Lovely Are Your Branches...!

12:38pm Thursday 6th December 2007

I love trees!

I love their smell after the rain, their majestic presence, the variety of colour, blossom and fruit.

They provide shelter, food and habitats and are increasing recognised for their importance in preventing climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide.

Which is why last Christmas, I decided to stop sending cards!

The facts are too horrible to ignore - it has been reported that last year we sent about 1.7 million cards -that's around 200 000 trees!!!!

Most of these end up in the bin.

I must admit that when I opted out of sending cards I did feel a little bah hum-bug' and apologetic to everyone -but that feeling lasted for, hmmm, a day!

Instead I tried sending e-cards -much more fun as you can design your own and free to send! I used the Friends of the Earth website but there are plenty others to have a look at.

I also phoned people to wish them a happy Christmas -particularly those without computer access. It's amazing - all those people I would usually write to saying the usual stuff"must meet up in the New Year etc" well, we arranged dates while we were talking and yes -we actually did get together!

But if you really need to send a card, there are recycled Charity ones available or you could make your own from bits and pieces! And don't forget to recycle them afterwards -the Woodland Trust has provided collection boxes at Tesco, WHSmith and TKMaxx.

Also -save the envelopes and reuse them over the next year.

So, if you think you have Christmas all wrapped up -that's great -but it depends on what you wrapped it in!

Last year we used over 8 000 tonnes of wrapping paper - enough to wrap Guernsey -that's 50 000 trees!!!

The worst options are the shiny patterned virgin paper, better to go for recycled, better still, recycled brown paper!

Or, and this is what I am going to try this year, use old newspapers -get the kids to put brightly painted handprints over them, or old comics for kiddies gifts!

Other ideas I have seen include using old maps, leftover wallpaper, tea towels, scarves and you could embellish with reusable ribbons or pretty hair slides for little girls -it's a great springboard for the imagination!

Whatever you decide, trees are important and deserve a bit of consideration this Christmas, and while we should be thinking of our loved ones, it's worth taking note of this ancient Chinese Proverb "One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade"

That's not a bad gift for our children is it?