It is estimated that in the UK we give around 1 billion Christmas cards each year. That's more than 300,000 trees - just to make Christmas cards!

So this year, perhaps consider not giving cards to people you'll be seeing over the Christmas period and if you want to send season's greetings to other members of our church, why not sign our giant card that will be launched in December.

Wrap your presents with kindness to the environment! Shiny foil wrapping paper can't be recycled and will go to landfill. How about using brown paper, or even newspaper decorated with reusable ribbons or perhaps a few twigs of festive greenery?

Avoid using non-recyclable sticky tape and try using string or biodegradable paper tape.

If you're going to buy a tree, how about searching for locally grown trees, or at least from the UK?

Despite recently published research from the plastic tree industry, real trees are generally better environmentally than their PVC counterparts. Plastic trees aren’t recyclable and have probably been shipped great distances - not to mention the fossil fuels used in their production.

We all enjoy some of the fantastic and extravagant light displays outside people's homes, but perhaps overlook the environmental impact (and the cost!). If you are planning on buying a new set of lights, choose LED as they will use only about one fifth of the energy needed to power traditional incandescent lights. Consider using a timer to control when they are switched on to avoid excessive use.

Trees- Don't forget that for a donation, Birmingham Hospice volunteers will collect and recycle your tree after Christmas; check here to see if your postcode is covered.

Cards- don't forget that cards with glitter or metal foil can't be recycled, so try to avoid these.

Getting outside is good for us and gives us a chance to enjoy God’s creation. For many of us the festive season is about spending time with friends and family.

Try making one of your festive activities a walk around your local park or nature reserve.

Look after wildlife this Christmas: resist the urge to sweep away leaves and other debris from your garden as many small mammals use them to keep warm. Remember to keep your bird feeders filled up, especially with high-fat foods like sunflower seeds and peanuts that help birds to keep warm during the long nights.