A green-minded householder is hoping to set an example to others that Christmas can be enjoyed without needless waste.

Cathy Swaby’s house will host the usual Christmas festivities such as partying, DJ-ing, trivial pursuit, lots of food, home-made decorations and presents.

But the 36-year-old, who lives with her 10-year-old daughter Sadie in Hove, is trying to minimise the waste they generate over the Yuletide period.

By doing so, she hopes that hundreds of trees could be planted across the county.

 

MORE:

 

She said: “I’m an avid recycler – my daughter and I hardly waste anything, we recycle glass, paper and plastic through Brighton and Hove City Council.

“My daughter actually tells me off if she ever catches me throwing even the tiniest bit of paper away.

“We try to never waste food, making meals out of the oldest cheese in the fridge and greenest potatoes in the vegetable drawer.”

The family are championing Marks & Spencer’s recycling scheme, where the Woodland Trust will plant a tree for every 1,000 Christmas cards recycled at one of their stores.

If everyone in East Sussex recycles just one Christmas card, the Woodland Trust would be able to plant more than 800 trees across the county.

Mrs Swaby added: “This scheme is a great way to continue to give to your family and friends, whilst turning that around to help plant trees.

“My daughter loved dropping her cards off last year to our local M&S knowing they would become trees.

“It’s an easy and fun way to help the local environment.”

She was rewarded for her green spirit with a trip to see some of the trees being planted in the wild.

She said: “It was actually quite moving. It is always good to see new trees being planted when so many are being cut down elsewhere.

“Knowing that we had been a part of the scheme felt good – like we were making a tiny bit of difference and when more people do the same, the difference will be huge.”

For more details, visit www.plana.marksandspencer.com or www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/christmascards.