Alternative Christmas Gifts

Yep, I know, we're all desperately trying to forget that it's just around the corner, but it's now reached a point where trying to hide from Christmas in the supermarkets, High Streets and online stores is well and truly, absobloominglutely impossible (trust me, I've tried). Only yesterday in Morrisons (other supermarkets are available), was I bombarded by Christmas gifts shouting at me from one side of the aisle, whilst the other side was full of Halloween themed items; which might I add, did not look too impressed at having their thunder stolen by a holiday two months away!

Anyway, that aside, there really is no escaping it, so we may just as well embrace it and start preparing, or not, because if I'm honest, the last thing I actually want to do is start buying presents only to have to pack them for the impending house move, to then lose the bloody things and find them again in six summer's time! Miss. D, though has come up with a solution, so Christmas preparations can indeed begin soon.

Some months ago, Miss. D came up with a fabulous idea, inspired by the tragic fires in the Amazon. She decided that this year for Christmas, everyone should have a tree planted to help rebuild the rainforest. Of course, being sixteen years old, and tech savvy, the job of researching said gift was left to the 'Great Gift Finding Fairy' aka 'Mum,' because that's what mum's do! And so, I spent an evening trying to find a way to put her inspired plan into action. Here's what I found, along with a few other ideas of gifts that will help conserve our planet and her wildlife.

The World Land Trust works across the globe and you can help by donating £5 to plant a tree (please note certificates are only available for donations of £25 or more), or if you're feeling very generous £100 to buy an acre of land helping to preserve a natural habitat for the wildlife who depend on it.

Closer to home, if you'd rather plant a tree in the UK to rebuild our forests and help sustain our native wildlife, you can do. For £15 you can dedicate a tree to someone, and you can choose and personalise a certificate for them too. Just pop on over to The National Forest.

Want to help support the wildlife in our oceans? There are a few options available. The WWF are one of the best known animal adoption charities, working to conserve not just the wildlife, but their habitats too. Some years ago, I adopted a Snow Leopard for Miss. L and she was absolutely thrilled to bits. It's great for kids as they get a toy and lots of information about their animal. Prices start at £3 a month and you can adopt fluffy land animals or dolphins and turtles.

Know someone who loves turtles, penguins or sharks? For £29.50 you get a fabulous adoption pack from The Deep. I'm rather fond of sharks, in case anyone is interested, not that I'm dropping hints, or anything, but I really do like sharks (almost as much as I like sloths) and I do have a birthday coming up soon, just saying.

And whilst we're on the subject of gifts. This year, why not ignore the pretty wrapping paper and go for plain brown paper. It's fully recyclable and you can tie it with pretty string and decorate it however you like to make it really special. Please do not under any circumstance try and wrap a tree, leopard or shark, I cannot guarantee your safety with the last two in particular, best leave them in the wild unwrapped and let your kind purchase take care of them and their future.

So that's us this Christmas. I'm sure they'll be a few small gifts given, but the main ones will be ethical ones that make a difference to our environment. I'm really quite proud of Miss. D and her suggestion, now if I can just persuade her to use those long legs a bit more, we'll be well on our way to reducing our carbon footprint.

Happy Christmas planning one and all!

This is not a sponsored post and none of the links is an affiliate link - we just wanted to share our Christmas plans with you.