1. The robin is the most well-known festive symbol of all. Originating from the Victorian trend of sending Christmas cards, the red coat of the postman gained him the nickname ‘robin redbreast’. Birds like the robin need our kindness in the wintry months. Why not put up a bird table and provide fatty foods like sunflower seeds and peanuts? It could make all the difference to the wildlife in your garden. 

2. Another garden bird was made a festive icon by the line ‘four calling birds’ in the famous carol. The words refer to a ‘colly’ bird, commonly known as a blackbird. ‘Colly’ was an old English term for ‘coal’, as in ‘coal black’. Happily, the blackbird is now doing quite well in the UK, but the winter is still a difficult time for all garden birds, so any help you can provide would be invaluable.

3. Contemporary Christmas songs play just as central a role in our festivities today. Nature often features in these modern ditties, just as it always has. One of the most ubiquitous Christmas songs contains the lyrics:

Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song as we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland

Referring to winter migration, this is a reminder to enjoy the overwintering birds while they’re here. Head to our viewpoint at Chew Valley Lake, where there’s always a fine range of winter wildlife to see.

4. Holly has been used as decoration since the Roman times, with the red berries lending a note of festive cheer. Planting a holly bush in your garden or in a pot is a great idea for wildlife. The berries provide essential food for birds, and ivy nectar is a great winter nectar source for insects.

5. Sneaking a kiss under the mistletoe probably originates from a Norse legend, in which the goddess Frigga declared mistletoe a symbol of love.  The berries of this parasite plant are a favourite of birds such as Blackcaps, which eat the fat-rich pith. You can help it to spread by growing it in your own garden. Extract the seeds from the berries of a cutting and wipe them on a young branch of a suitable tree, such as an apple.

6. The Germans began decorating trees at Christmas since the 1500s. Sadly, many of today’s trees are not disposed of sustainably. The good news is, there are plenty of solutions. You could buy a tree in a pot, and plant it outside when the festivities are over. Or why not shred it for mulch to give your garden a treat next year? 

7. The tradition of hanging sweets on the tree began with those early German trees. Nowadays we often do the same. Why not avoid extra packaging by making your own gingerbread men, and hanging those up instead?

8. You might feel worried about covering your tree with lights, at a time when we’re all trying to reduce our energy use. Simply switching to LED lights will use 75% less energy than non-LED alternatives, and will last 25 times longer. You might want to reconsider outside decorative lights, as these sudden illuminations can cause stress and confusion for wildlife.

9. Decided to skip the Christmas tree tradition altogether this year? Give it a modern twist by planting a tree as a special gift for someone.  For tips, take a look at our ‘how to’ guide.

10. Gift-giving stems from the Christmas story, and the wise men’s presents to the baby Jesus – but they didn’t wrap theirs in unrecyclable paper and then send it all to landfill. By contrast, each year we use enough wrapping paper to stretch around the planet 9 times.

Using recyclable wrapping paper is a simple way to counteract this. You could also replace wrapping paper with brown paper and string, or even old wallpaper.

11. For many of us the Christmas walk is one of the most important traditions of all. Relax by going for a peaceful stroll in the outdoors – our reserves are open all year, and there’s bound to be one near you. 

12. Finally, if you’ve missed anyone's Christmas present and want to give them something to celebrate the New Year, why not give the gift of membership to Avon Wildlife Trust to someone you care about? You will be playing a key role in fighting for the nature on your doorstep. Now there’s a Christmas dream we can all get behind.