tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3736810481082272795.post-80975477192351955502007-12-19T16:03:00.000Z2007-12-19T17:24:23.348ZIt's increasingly popular to think at Christmas about reducing your consumerism and supporting good causes instead. And Christmas is a time, in winter darkness, when we celebrate plants in particular. The tree, the holly, the ivy and the frankincense - all are from plants and all have threatened relatives. It's an opportunity to think of how we can give something back.<br /><br />We've a whole bunch of ideas for you to support plants and botanic gardens this Christmas.<br /><br />Here's a sample:<br /><ul><li>Visit your local botanic garden and ask them about plant conservation. Shop in their shop, volunteer some time if you can or buy yourself or your family a membership card for the whole year.<br /></li><li><a href="http://astore.amazon.co.uk/bgci-21/203-1962764-2272733">If you are going to shop on Amazon, do it via our portal. BGCI receives a part of all the cash you spend, but you pay the same.</a></li><li>Give a living plant as a gift. Choose a native and support your local plant diversity!</li><li><a href="http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visiting/plantfamiliesgame.htm">For the kids, try Chelsea Physic Garden's 'Plant Families' pack of cards</a></li><li>Give a living Christmas tree a home. I do this and its really fun seeing it get a bit bigger every year. Mine is just a little tiny one in a pot and one day I hope I'll be settled enough to plant him out in the garden. For now he comes indoors and gets a festive makeover once a year.</li><li><a href="http://www.decoratewithmag.com/charities.html">Have a look at "Petals by Mag" - beautiful flower pictures, framed and posted to you plus 10% goes to BGCI<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://www.bgci.org/worldwide/online_donation/">Bought all your gifts already? Make a donation to BGCI so we can carry on protecting rare species<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://www.bgci.org/worldwide/members/">Make it your new year resolution to join BGCI</a></li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1845375939?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=bgci-21&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;creativeASIN=1845375939">Check out Sara Oldfield's book on the Great Botanic Gardens of the World</a></li><li><a href="http://benevolus.com/">Send an eco-friendly e-card to all your friends, and donate to charity at the same time</a><br /></li></ul>BGCIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310939225034552740noreply@blogger.com