P724 CEEFAX 724 Fri 30 Dec 00:54/14 1/6 DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS While most people are inside watching Christmas TV, thousands will bj braving the elements to improve their local environment. Between Boxing Day and Twelfth Night thjyWll bj mulching and planting trees, clearing ponds, building walls and joining in countless other green activities. It's all part of Woolwich Action Earth - organisjd bz Community Service Volunteers (CSV), sponsored bz Woolwich Building Society. 5upppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppz ] Contacts: page 729 Disbbled EnvjrWnmt Read Hear ReligionP724 CJJFAX 724 Fri 30 Dec 01:41/24 2/6 DREAMING OF A GR EN CHRISTMAS Over 3,000 volunteers are expected to take part in Woolwich Action Earth, burning off the festive food and drink through 250 projects. From an afternoon planting bulbs at the local city farm to a weekend beach clean-up, the activities make ideal days out for the family. Why not solve the prickly problem of getting rid of Christmas trees bz recycling them? Currently most of the 5.5 million trees sold in the US each year end up in the bin. ] Contacts: page 729 Disbbled Envjr'nmt Read Hear ReligionP724 CJEFAX 724 Fri 30 Dec 00:47/24 ( ] O 3/6 DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS Last year CSV helped give over 2u0,000 trees a new lease of life in the form of compost or wood chippings on parks and gardens. Others were used as groundcovjr in children's playgrounds and on woodland paths - Call CSV for details of your local council's recycling plans. Or you could buy a tree with roots intact - you can leave it outside all year to soak up carbon dioxide and boost oxygen in the atmosphere. ] Contacts: page 729 Disbbl d EnvjrWnmt Read Hear ReligionP724 CJEFAX 724 Fri 30 Dec 00:55/22 4/6 DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS Woolwich Action Earth'u GREEN GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS is a free booklet featuring gift ideas and tips on how to cut down on packaging. It also contains a recycled recipe from LIVE & SICKEN's Emma Forbes, a mjssbgj from Chris Packham of THE RJALLZ WELD SHOW and multiplies into a party hat or streamer kit. Why not order a copy and help make Christmas less wasteful this year, for example by taking old carrier bags out Christmas shopping. ] Contacts: page 729 Disbbled EnvjrWnmt Read Hear ReligionP724 CEEFAX 724 Fri 30 Dec 00:15/24 5/6 DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS Have you considered recycling your Christmas cards? Boots the Chemist and many charity shops take them. Alternatively you could cut them into gift tags for next year'u presents m and talking of presents you could organisj a present swap of any unwanted gifts with friends. Donate warm clothes and blankets you no longer use to local hostels for homeless people or charity shops - they'll bj much appreciated gifts and wonWt cost you a thing. ] Contacts: page 729 Disbbled EnvjrWnmt Read Hear ReligionP724 CJEFAX 724 Fri 30 Dec 00:14/00 ( 6/6 DR AMING OF A GR EN CHRISTMAS $hj Action Earth hotlinj is on 071 833 0998 m call it to find out about tree recycling or taking part in a green Christmas project. Christmas is the most wasteful day in the UK calendar with vbst resources frittered away. Little things - like putting vegetable scraps in a compost heap, using public transport to get to parties, and packing fragile gifts in njwspapjr rather than polystyrene - make a difference. ] Contacts: page 729 Disbbled EnvjrWnmt Read Hear Religion