There's still life left in the old Christmas tree!

It's that time of year again when tired old Christmas trees are dropping their needles and need to be disposed of. Fortunately, there are some good alternatives to sending them to the landfill.

The easiest method of disposal is to cut off the branches with a saw and secateurs. The branches and trunk are then left in a heap in a quiet corner. This provides a great habitat for wildlife such as woodlice, centipedes, beetles and snails. Wrens and robins might be seen weaving their way through the pile for morsels.

The needles (and branches if you can chip them) are also good for mulching around plants. This will keep the weeds down and help to keep the frost at bay.

As a last resort, take the tree (and preferably neighbour's trees in the same journey) to a recycling centre for shredding and composting. Cutting off the branches makes them much easier to transport than a whole tree!

10 New Year's Resolution ideas for the truly green-fingered gardener

1. Replace inorganic fertilisers with organic ones
2. Use alternatives to chemical insecticides, fungicides and herbicides
3. Use alternatives to peat or peat-based composts or pots
4. Clean feeding and drinking stations regularly
5. Avoid throwing garden waste into natural areas
6. Compost garden and kitchen waste
7. Avoid offering foods to wildlife that contain additives such as salt
8. Reduce your use of electric, water, plastics and manufactured goods
9. Reuse materials such as gravel, bricks and paving slabs
10. Recycle unwanted plastic plant pots

Here's to a very happy New Year for gardeners and wildlife everywhere!

Seasonal plants and treats down the wildlife garden

Holly is a marvellous shrub for wildlife. Holly blue butterfly caterpillars feed on the buds. Birds feed on the insect congregation and berries, and find nest sites in the protective cover. The leaves take some time to rot and being prickly, they are often left by gardeners, providing ground cover for spiders and harvestmen.

Towards the end of its flowering season Christmas rose (Helleborus Spp.) provides a very early source of nectar to bees and honeybees.

The native cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) and small cranberry (Vaccinium microcarpum) have pinkish-red flowers that serve nectar to insects in June-August. They require an acidic soil. If you are lowering the pH artificially, use manure rather than peat as the latter is harvested from natural boglands.

As it's Christmas, why not spoil the birds by offering some different nuts instead of boring old peanuts! Offer dried fruit too. Whole foods are best - avoid foods with salt and additives.

What's hot and what's not in the wildlife garden?

This is an ideal time to clean most nest boxes. Few birds nest at this time of year, young birds are no longer returning home, and inspections for next year’s nesting have not yet begun. It is sensible to wear gloves. Any contents, such as nesting materials and unhatched eggs, or chicks that didn’t make it, should be removed. Chemicals are unnecessary – simply wash the box out carefully with boiling water.

Birds lose heat quickly, particularly during the cold nights, so they need plenty to eat. Yet in winter the seeds and berries are soon exhausted and the ground is often frosty, making it difficult for them to obtain food. If you stopped feeding the birds during the autumn booty, this would be a good time to begin feeding again. Perhaps you stored some fruit, berries and nuts in early autumn. These could be offered now - especially during bad weather.

Going really wild with your festive shopping

There are some really interesting Christmas gifts available to gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts.

The keen gardener knows the importance of natural pest control. They will enjoy the benefits of attracting ladybirds and lacewings to feast on aphids, as well as birds to pick off caterpillars. A ladybird or lacewing hibernation house or a bird box for blue tits would be ideal.

Children love growing wildlife-friendly plants such as sunflowers. There are lots of DVDs, books and CDs available on the subject of British wildlife and for a multi-purpose present you could buy a camera or binoculars.

For the person who has everything you could buy a hedgehog hibernaculum, bumblebee nest, mouse mansion, bat box (pictured), mason bee nester, or a book on garden beetles! An unusual and interesting gift for a wildlife enthusiast would be a year's membership of a wildlife charity.

Wildlife gifts can be purchased from wildlife organisations, online retailers, garden centres and book shops.