Branch out for a sustainable Christmas

For a completely sustainable alternative Christmas tree (Real or fake: which Christmas tree is most sustainable?, 4 December), we hunt for a small, twiggy branch – easily found at this time of year, especially after a storm – and hang lights and decorations on it. We have ornaments from many years back, so that’s added sustainability. We think it looks amazing; it doesn’t take up much space and rots down afterwards.
Dee Northover
Bristol

• As a child in the 1950s, I remember my mother ironing Christmas wrapping paper after we had unwrapped our presents to use it again the next year (How to make sure Christmas cards and wrapping don’t end up in landfill, 4 December). Following her thrifty example, my family are still making use of the stock of gift bags I collected from presents given to me by primary school pupils before I retired 15 years ago.
Margaret Cockburn
Morpeth, Northumberland

• When were we drawn into the use of terms such as “pre-booking”, when “making a booking” for a theatre ticket used to be sufficient? Surely a pre-owned item is one that hasn’t been bought yet? Pre-loved? Secondhand. Now we have pre-grated cheese (Fromage fictions, 6 December). The picture in print shows a piece of pre-grated cheese and a dish of grated cheese.
Colin J Merry
Lincoln

• John Whittingdale would like broadcasters to make more programmes reflecting British values (David Tennant questions Tory focus on ‘Britishness’ of TV shows, 7 December). Does this mean making sitcoms where people lie, cheat and involve themselves in sleazy activities?
David Prothero
Harlington, Bedfordshire

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