Is your fresh Christmas tree going to be recycled? Did you check that new trees were planted to replace the ones cut down to decorate homes this year? Or have you got an artificial tree that is made in an environmentally responsible manner?

As my thoughts turn toward Christmas I am discovering more and more ways to ‘do my bit’ for the environment this year. I don’t have a garden so I can’t compost any leftovers from Christmas dinner but I do have a little space for a wormery – this is particularly good for me as I have a pet hedgehog who will really enjoy an occasional treat! Aside from the odd worm, the concentrated liquid feed and top quality compost from a wormery are the real benefits. In my home the liquid feed and the compost both support an extensive collection of houseplants. For my parents these products are in great demand for the garden.

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Much of the veg for my Christmas dinner will come from my Dad’s garden – he was ‘growing his own’ long before the recent trend made it fashionable. With a bit of effort you can even produce some ‘new’ potatoes for Christmas day.

Another part of Christmas that I am able to do differently this year will be the decorating. As this is the first Christmas I will spend in this house it is time for some fresh dec’s and I have taken great pleasure in picking almost all my baubles from the recycled range. The photo shows how effective the papier mâché baubles look – these are (of course) made from recycled paper. It doesn’t stop with baubles though! Paper chains, recycled glass bowls, baskets from natural materials and wall decorations made from driftwood are just part of the collection. The driftwood decorations are particularly popular with the staff here but that may be because they are hand made in Devon by Daphne – a much loved member of the team at Castle Gardens before she retired to the sea!

To really give things the personal touch this year I plan to take advantage of our in-house experts and learn to make my own wreaths. The fresh moss comes from a local, sustainable source and all of the other ingredients are on hand –including the wire rings and the foliage.

Giving ‘green’ gifts is easy when you are at a garden centre 6 days a week – although they are not all getting the spectacular UK grown orchids or pick of the new season’s rose stock. One of the most commented upon items in the environmentally friendly area of our Christmas display are the wall clocks made from flattened beer bottles, although I can’t say who I bought one for in case he reads this blog!

Steve