At last, Christmas present ideas that won’t sit in a cupboard until they’re given away next year, won’t wreck the environment and will help local and small businesses. We hope that you find something for your hard to buy for people here and we’d love to hear any ideas that you have.
Give the present of a lesson, workshop or experience
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- a cookery class with The Cobbled Kitchen
- Have a Go at Painting lesson at Art Shed in St Albans
- Membership or the first few sessions with a local choir
- A workshop at Jefferson Eco or membership of their VIP scheme
Or a voucher for a bit of luxury
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- Voucher for the Odyssey Cinema in St Albans
- A voucher for a meal at one of Lussmanns sustainable restaurants or the Pudding Stop
- Afternoon tea at St Michael’s Manor
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Or something nice but helping the recipient be more eco friendly
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- Set of bowl covers from Jefferson Eco
- Recycled paper birdhouse from Oxfam
- RSPB approved bird feeder from one of your local garden centres
- A stack of preloved books from the Oxfam Bookshop or a book to spark interest in nature
- Food things
- A herb plant – rosemary or bay
- A veg box subscription
- Ultrasonic Gin from the Puddingstone Distillery – made in collaboration with and supporting the HMWT
- Local beer – 3 Brewers, Farr Brewery, Mad Squirrel
- Deli cheeses from the Fleetville Larder
- Chocolate – WWF recommend Tony’s Chocolonely as leading the way in sustainability
Or there’s the actual charity gifts for someone who is happy to forgo an actual gift for a donation on their behalf
- Plant a tree with the Woodland Trust for lovers of Heartwood
- Buy an Acre of rainforest with the World Land Trust for lovers of Sir David Attenborough
- or, for something more local, sponsor an animal with the Herts and Middx Wildlife Trust
And it’s not just through our presents that we can support good causes. Organizations like Shelter, Friends of the Earth and CAMFED have ecards that you can send which support their work.
Happy Christmas!
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