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Eco-friendly Christmas decorations

Most of us like the idea of a real Christmas tree, don't we, even if needles all over the floor mean its charm swiftly palls. Yet real trees aren't necessarily the eco option.

A real tree?

Christmas - keep it eco, keep it simple!

Enjoy an eco friendly Christmas by using LED lights, not overbuying food and using a recyclable tree whether it's a real potted spruce or an artificial one. Think about minimising your landfill waste.

Making mosaics with recycled materials: Katy Galbraith

eco friendly mosaic maker Katy Galbraith uses old bits of crockery and glass to make her beautiful works of art. She says making mosaics is a lot like doing jigsaw puzzles

The importance of renovating wood in the home

Exposed oak wooden beams are a feature of architecture over the centuries

Dundee Design Festival 2024

Aster la vista: flower of the month

asters are a perfect flower for autumn colour in the garden

Tips for keeping cut flowers fresher for longer

keep cut flowers fresh for longer by remembering a few key tips..like changing the water regularly, cutting the ends of and trimming any dying foliage

Winter shrubs with lovely berries

Head to your nearest garden centre and load up on berry-laden shrubs.

Skimmia: an evergreen shrub that adds a touch of elegance to any garden, even in the middle and winter. It produces clusters of fragrant flowers in spring, followed by vibrant red or white berries that persist throughout the autumn and winter months. Skimmia is ideal for shady spots and can be grown in containers or as a hedge. They are low-maintenance and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions, so ideal for a beginner gardener.

Campaign to go pesticide free

Local councils and campaigners are urging the new UK Labour government to pan pesticide use in urban areas. They say the recent Olympics have showcased a beautiful Paris, a city that has been pesticide free since 2017.

Campaigners here argue we should live in spaces free of toxic chemicals to protect humans health and wildlife.

More than 150 councillors around Britain have joined 15,000 members of the public in a drive by the Pesticide Action Network to call for urban areas to be pesticide-free.

London Design Festival 2024

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