Alternatives to Christmas Trees

Christmas Light Candlesticks

Christmas Scenes

Christmas Trees

Christmas Decorations

1. 1. Instead of a cut Christmas tree, try a living tree, in a pot. A living tree isn't thrown out after Christmas, and if you plant your living tree outdoors in your garden after Christmas, you've beautified your surroundings.
2. Try designating an existing outdoor tree as your Christmas tree. Set up some energy efficient lights set to a timer, and let your outdoor tree shine into your living room. Your hardier ornaments and even popcorn garlands also work nicely outdoors and bird food will help attract birds too.
3. Making your own Christmas tree can become a great tradition if you get the whole family in on the fun. How about a beautiful tree made from used plastic water bottles, or a wooden tree from scrap lumber? Habitat sell ordinary deciduous tree branches painted white, which you can easily do at home, or buy a woven tree from willow. Get visitors to make or bring a decoration for the tree from recycled materials such as old gift paper and cards and you’ll have an heirloom in no time.
4. Try a bonsai or miniature evergreen tree - if your space is limited, miniature evergreen trees are a readily available alternative to cut Christmas trees. They last a long time, and again, because they are living trees, reusing them helps the planet.
5. Instead of a cut Christmas tree, sponsor the planting of more live trees in a damaged or poor ecosystem. Many UK charities will allow you to plant trees in Africa or Asia, several Tsunami charities are planting specifically to replace trees lost in the terrible new year tsunami and you can even help reforest the Scottish Highlands by planting your own ‘Christmas’ tree via the Findhorn Project.

Christmas Tree Alternative photograph by Cobalt 123, used under a creative commons attribution licence.