R&S Pride NOVEMBER 232.qxp 04/10/2021 17:09 Page 47
COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
COUNTDOWN TO
CHRISTMAS Make preparations for the festive season easier as we countdown to Christmas in Rutland & Stamford. This month we’re eight weeks away, and so we’ve eight ways make life easier... 1. Making Gifts Go Further It’s a wonder that the old adage suggests its better to give than to receive, given the exhausting amount of labour and creative thinking that goes into ensuring everyone in the family has something to unwrap on Christmas morning. If you’ve a large family, with in-laws and step-relatives, consider a gift cooperative. The idea is that everyone purchases a single gift for a single person in the family – spending an agreed equivalent of what you’d spend on the whole family in total on one, more meaningful, present. The result is a more substantial gift and fewer presents to buy. Alternatively, consider charity donations instead of gifts, the adoption of an animals in a rescue centre or challenge yourself to only buy gifts from local, instead of national, retailers. 2. All Wrapped Up Not all Christmas wrapping is as recyclable as we assume. Glitter or foil papers are often rejected by local authorities, and Lincolnshire’s Jane Means has a range of eco-friendly wrapping, and has a range of other suggestions such as using fabric, to get around the environmental impact of making your gifts look really special. We also love the simple, rustic look of brown craft paper combined with dried foliage from the garden.
3. Find Your Festive Tree It’s always better to visit a local Christmas tree farm given that national garden centre chains tend to have their trees in cold storage for days or even weeks. The fresher your tree, the longer it will last without dropping needles. For the ultimate eco-friendly tree, Rudies Roots Nursery at Nettleham (01522 752762, www.rudiesroots.co.uk), allow you to ‘rent’ a tree each year which is delivered potted up with roots. Once Christmas is over, it’s returned and replanted with a 40% discount when you bring it back into your home next year. In between, don’t locate your tree near heat sources, keep it well-watered and it’ll look wonderful throughout the season. >>
Left: Belvoir Castle, ancestral home of the Duke & Duchess of Rutland presents a Regency Christmas this year. See www.belvoircastle.com.
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