Top tips for Christmas

Hello everyone,

This post is all about how to help the environment over Christmas.

1. Try not to travel massive distances by plane

Christmas is the time of the year to get the whole family together, not go on holiday. Enjoy the environment around you, talk to the friends and neighbours that you normally talk to, you don't need to fly half way aroudn the globe for just one week. Of course, if you are travelling to visit family this doesn't really count.

2. Christmas trees;

Most people buy a new Christmas tree every year and then throw it away in January. The more environmentally friendly option is to buy a small Christmas tree in a pot and put it out in the garden and let it grow for the rest of the year and then bring it in again next Christmas. There are quite a few advantages when doing this.

1. Planted trees don't drop loads of needles.

2. It saves money because you don't have to pay for a new tree every year.

3. It saves the hassle of trying to get a massive tree from the shop to your home.

The downside is that you need a garden or a plot of land where you can plant the tree from January until December.

3. Wrapping paper

When you're wrapping up gifts for friends and family, try and think about how you're wrapping them. There are several ways to be more environmentally friendly when it comes to wrapping paper.

3.1. Wrap it up in a newspaper

Advantages:

1. Saves money because you don't have to buy wrapping paper.

2. Wrapping paper is often wrapped in plastic in the shop, so using newspapers saves plastic.

3. Reuse the newspaper, and reusing stuff is always good.

3.2. Be careful of how you wrap and unwrap presents

So if you don't want to use newspaper, then you can still use wrapping paper. Here's how it works:

1. Try to choose nice wrapping paper

2. Don't use sellotape or anything that will rip the paper. Use string instead.

3. Try and wrap it with as fewer folds as possible.

4. When you're on the receiving end:

4.1. Unwrap it carefully to avoid ripping the paper

4.2. Use the wrapping paper for something else. For instance:

4.2.1. Make a bookmark out of it

4.2.2. Save it for next Christmas

4.2.3. Find another use for it that avoids chucking it away

4. No tinsel

So tinsel is be quite popular. It can also make the holiday feel even better. But what happens to tinsel after Christmas? It gets thrown away. Tinsel also drops little plastic strands that often end up inside a sea animal's stomach! So this year, try and avoid tinsel. It isn't that hard.

5. Presents

When you walk down a supermarket alley at Christmas, you see tons of presents. The majority of them are either wrapped in plastic or made of it. Trying to find a present that doesn't contain plastic can be hard. Normally the only things that don't contain plastic are books. (Not that any of us would ever say no to a book!) But if you know someone who doesn't like books, it can be hard to find them a present.

However, there's another option: homemade presents. Ok, so these take longer, but they're cheaper. Sometimes they don't cost a penny because they're made from things you've already got around the house. Also, homemade presents are lovely to receive because you know that the other person put time and effort into them.

So those were our five top tips for Christmas. If you can think of any more, write them in the comments or send us an email at contact.greenworldblog@gmail.com

In case we don't publish another post before then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Image: This image is owned by Skylar Kang on pexels.com.

Comments

The life of ... an alcon blue butterfly

Hi everyone, Today we are going to be looking into the life of an alcon blue butterfly (Phengaris alcon). After mating, the females lay their eggs on marsh gentian, a blue-coloured wildflower. The eggs can only be laid on these flowers, as this is what the newly hatched caterpillars will eat. Although in some alp regions, they can also be found on willow gentians, a close relative of the marsh gentian. Once the caterpillars have hatched from the eggs, their main predator and danger are the ants that swarm below. But high on their plant homes, the caterpillars are safe. However, this isn't where the alcon blue caterpillars are going to stay forever. Eventually, they drop down to the ground using silk strings. With no protection, they are soon dragged off by the ants. The most amazing part is, the alcon blue caterpillars give off the same scent and chemicals as the ant larvae. So the ants take the caterpillars back to their brood chamber, wher...

Animals 11-15 in our '50 incredible animals' series

Hello, We have another five amazing animals for you today. Enjoy! 11. Dhole This is a dog species which looks rather like a red fox . They are difficult to put into any of the dog subfamilies. They aren't foxes, nor wolves, nor domestic dogs. Dholes are fast runners and live in packs of 5-12 individuals. Although sometimes, different packs will join forces to become a pack of 30 or more individuals! However, these super packs are broken up after a successful hunt. The different packs rarely attack each other as neighbouring packs are often closely related. Dhole packs live in burrows with multiple entrances. They can be found in eastern and southern Asia. They eat wild berries, insects and lizards and as a pack hunt deer, rodents and other wild mammals. Interestingly, unlike other dogs, they rarely kill by biting at the throat. They are also good swimmers! 12. Irrawaddy dolphin The Irrawaddy dolphin can be found in coastal areas of south a...

Ecotourism: what it is, the advantages and the disadvantages

Hi Everyone! Today we wanted to talk about the idea of ecotourism, including the advantages and disadvantages of this concept. If you are looking to reduce your environmental and social impact when travelling, then this is the post for you! Ecotourism is a form of tourism which limits the damage to the environment and local community. It can involve helping in community projects such as planting trees, as well as taking part in local customs and festivals. It helps to keep the local culture alive, while preserving the natural environment. The advantages are abundant. By helping in a project conserving the environment, tourists gain a new understanding and appreciation for the natural world and may be inspired to make changes in their "real" life to live more sustainably. It provides a valuable insight to a country and community, perhaps also inspiring more respect for different people and the lives they lead. The projects also provide sustainable income sources for locals, h...

June 2021 Factfile - some news from the past month, animals and our first plant of the month!

Hi Everyone! We’re terribly sorry for missing last month’s fact file (May). We have all had a busy few months. This is actually the May fact file coming out very late. The June fact file is cancelled. Because of this, this factfile contains news from both months. We are very sorry for the delay in this post. As announced in our last factfile, this post has a new feature to it; plant of the month. We hope you'll enjoy it! News: Sierra Leone has sold a rainforest for a Chinese Harbour Sierra Leone has sold 250 acres of beach and protected rainforest for £39m to build an industrial fishing harbour. It was home to many animals, including several endangered species. This will also have a disastrous impact on local communities, tourism and as I've already mentioned, the environment. Just click here - It's an article about all the environmental disasters that happened in May. It shocked me. Red Squirrels were born ...

10 animals on the edge of extinction you didn't know about no. 9 - South Island takahē

Hello Today we’re talking about the South Island takahē, porphyrio hochstetteri . They are flightless birds, endemic to New Zealand. Takahē are brightly coloured and weigh 2.3-3.8 kg. They have red legs and a large red beak. Their feathers are coloured blue and green. They have wings, but these are only used during courtship or rivalry displays. They are territorial, with one family’s territory reaching anywhere from 4 ha to 100 ha (0,04-1km^2). Pairs will live in the same territory each year. They breed once a year and will raise 1-3 chicks (normally 2) each year. Both parents raise the chicks together. In the wild, takahē live in native grasslands and have a lifespan of 16-18 years. If snow covers the ground then they will move into nearby forests. They eat tussock grasses, sedges and sometimes rushes. But they are opportunists, so they will occasionally go for insects or even ducklings and...

Coral reefs

Hello! We would love to introduce you to the topic of coral reefs and especially coral reef bleaching, as it is a greatly ignored but certainly significant topic. Have fun! 5 coral reef facts 1. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on the planet and is 2300 km long! 2. Less than 0.1% of the world's ocean surface is covered in coral reefs. 3. At least 25% of all marine animals live there. 4. Coral reefs are often known as the rainforests of the ocean. 5. In 1 square kilometre of coral reef, up to 35 tons of fish can be 'produced'. The 5 biggest coral reefs in the world 1. Great Barrier Reef (near Australia) 2. Red Sea Coral Reef (near Egypt, Israel and Djibouti) 3. New Caledonia Reef (Pacific Ocean near New Caledonia) 4. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (near Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras) 5. Florida Reef (Atlantic Ocean/Gulf of Mexico near Florida) What is coral? Coral is actually made up of small anim...

18.10.20 Animal Of The Week: Sloth

Hello, Sorry this didn't come out on Sunday as planned but this week's animal of the week is the sloth because the twentieth of October is Sloth Day. Habitat The sloth resides in Central and South America. It lives in the rainforests there and occasionally drops into the water for a bathe as, believe it or not, they are actually excellent swimmers! Diet Sloths eat leaves, twigs and buds which they find in the rainforest. As they don't have incisors they smack their lips together to make leaves more digestible. Sloths can survive on relatively little food as it takes a while for them to digest it. Sleep and Speed When you think of a sloth, you probably think of this slow, sleepy creature. They actually sleep for about 15 hours a day! Sloths have an extremely low metabolic rate (what basic calories your body needs to survive), which means they move at a slow pace through the trees. On average, sloths travel 40 yards per day ...

Phytoplankton

Hi everyone, Today we're learning about phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that live in both salt and fresh water, and are mostly single-celled plants. The name phytoplankton comes from Greek and means 'drifting/wandering plants'. One of the most well-known phytoplankton species is green algae. Photosynthesis and carbon transport Phytoplankton contains chlorophyll and photosynthesises . This process absorbs carbon dioxide and creates oxygen, which is released into the surroundings. This is so effective that according to a NASA page : "Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton consume carbon dioxide on a scale equivalent to forests and other land plants." Phytoplankton is accountable for the majority of the carbon dioxide that is transferred from the atmosphere to the ocean. This carbon is carried to other ocean layers when the phytoplankton dies and sinks to the ocean floor or is eaten by animals, that then gener...

Sustainable food choices challenge

Hi everyone, Welcome back to our second challenge! Today we're talking about sustainable food choices. 1. No meat on Mondays challenge The production of meat, especially beef, is resource-intensive and contributes significantly to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. By dedicating one day a week to plant-based meals, you can decrease your carbon footprint and help to reduce the strain on natural resources. This challenge encourages a more sustainable and ethical approach to food consumption, gaining a better understanding of the environmental impact of meat production. Reducing meat intake is also associated with health benefits, including lower risks of heart disease and certain cancers, making it a win-win for both your personal well-being and the planet. 2. Local / seasonal eating challenge Choosing local and seasonal foods is important in helping to reduce the environmental impact of food production and transporta...

Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Hi everyone, Today we wanted to talk about Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a writer, and conservationist who lived from 1890 to 1998. To find out more about other inspirational environmentalists, we already have posted about Dara McAnulty , Wangari Maathai , Sir David Attenborough , Maria Sibylla Merian , Rachel Carson , and Jane Goodall . As stated above, Marjory was born in 1890, in Minneapolis, USA. In her childhood, she was a passionate reader, which lead her to study English at University and to become a journalist for a newspaper her father ran. Through this job, Marjory was able to spread awareness about issues she cared about: politics, civil rights, the suffrage movement, and of course, environment conservation. In the early 1940s, Marjory became interested in the Everglades in South Florida. At this time, very little was known about them, so she spent five years researching their history and ecology. The book she w...

Green World

Search This Blog