Tuesday 15 October 2019

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.

Christmas gifts wrapped in brown paper and tied with string

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.

Tree in a broken globe

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.

sea turtle

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.


My Random Musings


Musings Of A Tired Mummy

Confessions of a New Mummy

22 comments:

  1. What wonderful ideas. Gifts like these really do help the world a little and they're something a little different from the usual bottle of wine or pair of socks x

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  2. Hi Kim. Thank you, I'm actually impressed my daughter came up with this!

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  3. Such a great idea. I would love a gift like this, so different from the usual 'smelly set' most people get every year and has a much more positive impact on the planet.
    #BloggerClubUK

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    1. I'm attempting to drop hints to the kids about the shark adooption x

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  4. Great ideas, I am going to adopt a shark for my parents #globalblogging@_karendenbid199@gmail is

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    1. Awesome! Sharks are super cool and the poor things have a bad reputation, they need love too x

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  5. These are great ideas! I've also seen catalogs where people can buy a well for remote villages or even a goat or chickens. I'm your neighbor at #globalblogging.

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    1. Hi Barbara. Yes those are amazing gifts to give too, I've done those in the past too. Perhaps I need to do another post to include them. Hope you're well x

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  6. Love this, great ideas - especially when I start seeing all this tat around in the shops, all those Christkindle type gifts that probably end up in the trash after a little while (+all their plastic packaging) #globalblogging

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    1. Urgh! Plastic! It's virtually impossible to avoid the darned stuff!

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  7. What lovely ideas. So different, unique but special x #TwinklyTuesday

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    1. Thank you Rosie. I'm so proud of my daughter for inspiring this x

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  8. These are some great ideas! I think next year we are going to ditch the gifting entirely and go with more creative ideas like this. Most people buy what they want throughout the year, it's so hard to shop for adults. And if I'm honest, none of my nieces and nephews actually need another toy for the rest of their lives according to their parents. Sounds like an ocean donation is perfect for them! #GlobalBlogging

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    1. You are so right, Heather! Buying for people now is so difficult now and most of us don't really need anythingelse.

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  9. I love the idea of something a little different for Christmas - great ideas! #TwinklyTuesday

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  10. All great ideas. We all have so much stuff don't we? #MMBC

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    1. We do. I always struggle when people ask me what I want for Christmas and Birthday because I don't actually want more stuff. I'd much rather have something brought for me that would benefit someone else or the environment.

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  11. What lovely ideas! And how thoughtful of your daughter to suggest them. :) x

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  12. What lovely ideas. I did adopt a dolphin for my dolphin loving niece when she was young and she loved it. She got a cuddly toy and a certificate and updates every month for a year.

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    1. It's amazing how excited they are by having an animal adopted for them. My youngest loved her snow leopard x

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