The festive season is finally here! It’s a time for celebration, reflection, and spending quality time with loved ones. For those of us who work closely with the land, it’s also a time to appreciate the natural beauty of winter. However, the holiday season can sometimes come with a heavy environmental price tag, from excess waste to plastic decorations.
This year, why not embrace a greener approach? A sustainable Christmas doesn’t mean sacrificing the magic; in fact, connecting with nature can make your celebrations feel even more special and grounded. At SWS Countryside, we are passionate about protecting our environment year-round. To help you celebrate responsibly, we’ve put together some practical tips for a festive, eco-friendly holiday that benefits both your family and the planet.
1. Embrace Natural Decorations
Nature provides some of the most beautiful decorations you could ask for, and they are completely biodegradable. Instead of buying new plastic tinsel or synthetic baubles, look to the outdoors for inspiration.
Foraging for Foliage
A winter walk can yield a treasure trove of decorative materials. Look for fallen pinecones, sprigs of holly, ivy, and mistletoe. These can be used to create stunning wreaths, table centerpieces, or mantle displays. (Just remember to forage responsibly—only take what you need and never uproot plants).
- Pinecones: These can be used as they are for a rustic look or painted with eco-friendly paint for a splash of color. They make excellent tree ornaments or place settings.
- Greenery: Fresh cuttings of evergreen branches bring the scent of the forest into your home and look elegant draped over mirrors or banisters.
Dried Fruit Garlands
Making your own garlands is a fun family activity. Slices of dried orange, apple, and cinnamon sticks strung on natural twine look festive, smell amazing, and can be composted after the holidays.
2. Choose a Real Christmas Tree (and Recycle It!)
The debate between real and artificial trees is ongoing, but from an environmental perspective, a real tree is often the better choice—provided it is sourced and disposed of correctly.
Why Real is often Better
Real trees are a renewable crop. While they grow, they absorb carbon dioxide and provide habitat for wildlife. Artificial trees are typically made from plastic (PVC) and shipped across the globe, creating a significant carbon footprint. You would need to use an artificial tree for at least 10 years to offset its environmental impact compared to a real one.
Sourcing Your Tree
Look for a locally grown tree to minimize transportation miles. Ideally, choose one with a “grown in the UK” certification or one from a sustainable grower who replants for every tree cut.
Recycling Your Tree
What you do with your tree after Christmas is crucial. Do not send it to a landfill, where it will decompose and produce methane. Instead:
- Chipping: Many local councils offer tree recycling services where trees are chipped into mulch for local parks.
- Composting: If you have a garden shredder, you can chip the tree yourself and use it as mulch for your garden paths or flower beds.
- Habitat Creation: If you have space, you can cut the branches and stack them in a quiet corner of your garden. This creates a fantastic shelter for hedgehogs, beetles, and other small creatures during the cold winter months.
3. Support Local Wildlife This Winter
While we are enjoying our festive feasts, local wildlife can struggle to find food and water as temperatures drop. Christmas is the perfect time to give a little back to the nature on your doorstep.
Feed the Birds
Winter is tough for birds. You can help by keeping feeders topped up with high-energy foods like sunflower seeds, peanuts, and fat balls. Avoid using plastic netting around fat balls, as birds can get their feet trapped.
Provide Water
Natural water sources often freeze over in December. Putting out a shallow dish of fresh water daily is a lifesaver for birds and small mammals who need to drink and bathe to keep their feathers and fur in good condition.
Leave a “Messy” Corner
Resist the urge to tidy up every part of your garden. Piles of leaves, logs, and long grass provide essential insulation for hibernating insects and animals. It’s the best Christmas gift you can give to your garden’s ecosystem.
4. Rethink Your Wrapping
Did you know that much of the wrapping paper sold in stores cannot be recycled? If it contains glitter, foil, or plastic lamination, it has to go in the general waste bin.
The “Scrunch Test”
If you scrunch the paper into a ball and it stays scrunched, it can likely be recycled. If it springs back, it probably contains plastic.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives
- Brown Kraft Paper: This is fully recyclable and looks very chic tied with natural twine and a sprig of rosemary or spruce.
- Fabric Wrapping: Use reusable fabric bags or the Japanese art of Furoshiki (wrapping with cloth) for a gift that keeps on giving.
- Upcycled Paper: Use old maps, newspapers, or sheet music for a unique and vintage look.
5. Burn the Right Wood
If you’re gathering around a wood burner or open fire this Christmas, ensure you are burning the right fuel. Burning wet or unseasoned wood produces harmful particulate pollution and provides very little heat.
- Look for “Ready to Burn”: Always buy wood with the “Ready to Burn” logo, which guarantees it has a moisture content of less than 20%.
- Avoid Burning Wrappings: It might be tempting to throw wrapping paper on the fire, but the dyes and plastics can release toxic fumes. Stick to dry, seasoned logs.
