h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm not a lover of christmas, every year i spend X amount of pounds on toys and gifts for my family, which could go to a better cause. Thats not to say that i don't think my family are not a good cause. When i think of all the toys that i have bought the grandkids, that never see the light of day after christmas, it seems such a waste
Stay with me, this is going to ramble a bit
I have found the perfect gift this year, that will suit both adults and children. It's a gift that can help animals and nature
WH Smiths have a series of adoption packages which can be bought and make a perfect The packs range from £20 - £25 depending which pack you choose. The smaller packs are: save a bluebell wood, plant a tree, adopt an area of rainforest, adopt a turtle and adopt an orang-utan. These packs include an information booklet and something relating to what pack you have bought, plus an activation card for the person recieving the gift.
The larger packs are all specific animals. Each pack contains a plush toy of your chosen animal and various bits of information, including a personal story of your adopted animal and activation card. The person recieving the gift will get letters from their animal and a certificate. I cant' think of a better present
I bought three Two for the grandkids and one for me. I'm going to tell you Ginny's story, from the card that was inside the box.

That sounds like a great idea.

Ginny's story

Ginny is a beautiful female bear who lives at the animals asia bear sanctuary near Chengdu in southwest China. Ginny is one of a group of rescued moon bear, named after the crescent of yellow fur on their chest. At the sanctuary she is cared for by the sanctuary team and enjoys delicious food, lush natural foliage and swimming in cool water.
Ginny had been kept in a cruel bear 'farm' and was painfully 'milked' for her bile. Terribly thin and stressed, Ginny was held in a tiny 'crush' cage, with a metal catherter inserted in her gall bladder to extract bile. Bear bile is a traditional ingredient in Asian medicine, but herbal and synthetic alternatives are now readily available and far more effective.
Through the tireless work of Animals Asia, Ginny was rescued in 2000 and, safe at the haven of the sanctuary, has now recovered from her years of torture. Her wounds have healed and she is now happy and healthy. Animals Asia has rescued hundreds of farmed bears in China.
With the help of the Born Free Foundation, Animals Asia will care for Ginny for the rest of her life.

What could be more worthwhile than helping to save a piece of nature, whether flora or fauna.

A wonderful Idea Venus!

I went to the opera last night to see a performance of Carmen. In one of the early scenes, they had a donkey on stage seemingly having a wonderful time and getting loads of fuss.

When looking through the souvenir brochure there was a full page advert listing 12 donkey sanctuaries to contact to 'adopt a donkey' for £15 per year and the chance to visit.

Thats brilliant! It's good to see that people are trying to get others to adopt animals

This is the organisation that Ginny is being looked after by <./>http://www.animalsasia.org</.>
Also <./>bornfree.org.uk</.> Which help aswell.

<./>http://www.bornfree.org.uk</.>

There are so many opportunities to do something worthwhile instead of buying expensive presents that may not necessarily please, and spending on glossy packaging etc. there were some good ideas with Christian Aid and other organisations too.. Something to suit everyone.

Websailor

Excellentidea Venus! Very worthwhile I think!

Leave it to you, good Lady, to find just the right gift idea, with real heart.

Well wonder of wonders guess what turned up today a little wandering bear that by the look of the frank marks has had quite a journey ....so I am repackaging him and sending him off again today lets see if he makes it this time round keep your fingers corssed maybe it will get there before your grandshild turns one.

Hi Venus,

and well done!

I agree with the concept.

Would anyone like an adopt-a-turtle?

My company have been doing this for a couple of years, and I got a little excited, and purchased one too many...

And unfortunately they didn't go down too well! so this year it is cookery books or membership to worthwhlie conservation causes...

E.g.
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=90&pst=639698

MMF

MMF You could always adopt the turtle yourself

It's a shame they did'nt go down well, personally i would love to recieve a gift like that. I guess some people would much rather have something more material in terms of presents

Excuse my butting in again didn't realise I was on your personal site before Venus, getting a bit dotty as I get older...personally I would love a turtle but then my children think I am strange as I am rather excited about the two banjo frogs that not only took up residence in our pond we constructed over winter but who have left a large floating mass of eggs due to hatch any day now and tomorrow we have a couple from the West Australian reptile centre bring live specimens along to show a group of our homeschooling families and teach us how to build habitat from everything from bungarrows to blue tounge lizards

Hiya Jen! hows you hows Weebel love Liz