Peaslake, Pond Lane Car Park

Christmas Trees & Decorations

Ensure your tree has roots so it can grow again or recycle it when Christmas is over (look at the recycling sites given above for a site in your area)

Make sure you purchase Christmas Decorations that can be used year to year

Make your own decorations wherever possible � try using waste around the house, getting your children to make art decorations, making biscuits��

Christmas Presents

Buy recycled presents wherever possible � to search for suitable products in your area go to www.recycledproducts.org.uk or buy from companies such as WWF who sell �Goods That Don�t Cost The Earth� � WWF can be contacted on 01483 426444.

Why not give unusual presents this year � how about Adopt An Animal or Sponsor An Acre of Rainforest? Call WWF on 01483 426444 or visit www.wwf.org.uk to enquire about animal adoptions. Visit Rainforest Concern for information about Sponsor an Acre - www.rainforestconcern.org!

Give �Green� presents this year � what about a composter, wormery or Green Cone? Call us on 01483 445084 and we can arrange one for you to collect.

Natural Collections produce an excellent range of �environmentally friendly� products � for use in everyday life or as gifts. Look at their website �����. Or call them on ����.. to request a catalogue.

When buying presents � think carefully about its durability, whether it is Long Life and whether it has excessive packaging. If it is a battery powered item, provide rechargeables to go with it.

If you receive a present you don�t want then consider passing it to your local hospital, play centre, charity shop, school or to neighbours and friends.

Buy Fair Trade and organic items if possible.

Christmas Cards

Send e:cards via email if you can.

If you are buying cards then buy from a charity shop or buy recycled cards � try WWF for an attractive range of recycled cards or visit your local Cards for Good Causes venue.

Try to reuse cards where possible, try putting a label over last years cards.

You can also make attractive tree decorations from old Christmas cards! Just cut pictures out of the cards in a circular shape and hand string through it.

Use old Christmas Cards to make very attractive gift tags! Cut out the more attractive pictures on your cards!

If cards cannot be reused then ensure you recycle them or see if a local school or playgroup could use them.

Christmas Wrapping Paper & Decorations

Buy recycled wrapping paper where possible. Try WWF for their range of recycled wrap.

Young children could have great fun making their own wrapping paper. All you need are home-made potato stamps and sheets of newspaper.

Rather than use wrapping paper, try using fabric bags that you can give gifts in year after year.� You could also collect cardboard boxes and give gifts in them. All you need is some decoration and they can look just as good (and are more exciting to open)

Save used wrapping paper each year and you can help protect the environment as well as save money! You can also keep the ribbons, bows and other decorations for reuse.

Don�t use too much paper and use ribbon and string that can be saved and reused rather than sellotape. This will prevent damage to the paper so it can be used again!

For those less concerned about presentation, you could even use newspaper and junk mail to wrap your presents!

Waste at Christmas Time

After Christmas parties and dinners, ensure all recyclable items are taken to the nearest recycling point or that they are put in a Green Box for collection.

Why not put all waste food and vegetable peelings in a compost bin or wormery! Call 01483 445084 to order a compost bin for just �5.

Decorating Your Home

Try putting cloves into an orange and decorating it with ribbons.

You can also make your own Christmas pot pourri using cloves, cinnamon sticks, coloured apples & pears.

Use coloured fruit to make attractive centrepieces. Surround the fruit with wreaths of leaves, ribbons�

You can think up some very unusual but festive ideas for your front door � what about a pair of ice skates with decorative bows & ribbons?