Are you bored of the capitalist countdown to Christmas? Not relishing the thought of adding to the factory fumes in China with more bits of plastic no one needs? Want to do your Christmas shopping this year guilt free and knowing that you are adding to the local economy by supporting local artists and good causes? You do? Good me too! Let’s spread the Bristol Love by buying gifts for loved ones locally this Christmas. Here are my top 5 Christmas gift idea’s absolutely guilt free and environmentally friendly (less horrible plastic) local gifts that any conscious lovely lady or gent will thank you for:

1.Treeaid

Based in Brunswick Square in Bristol Gifts that grow support Tree Aid’s work across communities in Africa. Choose to donate a Moringa tree, known locally as a miracle tree, or fund a villager to be trained in setting up and running a successful tree nursery. Your gift will help African dryland households transform their lives and protect their environment. Now whose not going to get a lovely heart warming feeling this Christmas knowing that their gift made all this happen?! Awww

2.Bristol Pounds

Ok so I know money doesn’t seem a very exciting gift…but with Bristol pound’s arty and original designs, each note is really an artwork in its own right and if that doesn’t grab you, just think your loved ones can spend their beautifully designed monies in some lovely local Bristol business or restaurant and sample some yummy local produce…see I knew I would win you over! And for the collectors friends of yours they have released some lovely paper first print editions that I think would look lovely framed and hanging on a wall https://bristolpound.org/sho

3. Relax Bristol Massage Voucher

What could be a better gift than the gift of massage; lets face it after the stress of figuring out how to fit that turkey or nut-roast in the oven, family overload, the 101 Christmas work do overindulgences and the frost bitten fingers from those wintery Christmas walks what the body really needs is to rest, relax and rejuvenate and what better way to do that than with a post-Christmas massage at home. Yes that’s right you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your cosy house Relax Bristol comes to you. Ooo yes and talking of post the voucher is thin enough to pop through the post or send in an email or you could even add a luxury bath robe, candle and some lovely essential oils to make it a truly wholesome gift for someone special this Christmas.

4. Avon Wildlife Trust annual membership

Make your animal loving loved ones super happy with this environmental gift of one years subscription to Avon Wildlife trust. It’s a great cause and your giftee will receive two mailings of the ‘wildlife’ magazine and can feel good about helping all that fantastic wildlife survive another winter.

5. Anarchist books and Prints

Buying for someone with strong political viewpoints? A corbyn lover? Or a stick it to the man kind of gal or guy? Tangent books have a range of gifts from graffiti mugs to prints to books to socks. And as an independent publisher in Bristol they are a great business to suppor

So plenty of ideas there for a conscious Christmas, oh yes and if that wasn’t enough check out Made in Bristol which is selling all manner of beautiful ceramics, artworks and jewellery in the Bristol Lab space at the Harbourside.

So don’t give in to consumer pressure this Christmas… give the gift of relaxation, hope, creativity and most of all love this year! You will feel better for it and so will your receivers knowing that each one of us is making this world a better place one gift of love at a time. x

This post was written by our therapist Charlotte. If you would like to read more or book a treatment with Charlotte then please click here: https://www.relaxbristol.co.uk/charlotte

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