Christmas with the Conrans

The Conran Shops in London are a visual feast of Christmas trees, made using recyled wood.

Every year the festive season brings out a brand new selection of kitsch. Think red, green, gold and blue tinsel, plastic ornaments that dangle from a plastic tree and, don't forget, those Christmas carols.

But all is not lost when it comes to Christmas decorations. The Conran Shops is London have managed to add a touch of, recycled, class to their store fronts. And its more than just window dressing because the money raised from the sale of these decorations will go to charity.

The Conran Shops have been adorned with more than 300 wooden trees. The trees are all handmade from recycled wooden pallets by the Hastings and Bexhill Wood Recycling Project. Exactly the kind of Christmas touch the modern home needs, the trees vary in size and price, from about R150 to R2000.