Bernice Harrisonon alternatives to movies and the mall
Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Co Kildare
Make Christmas cards from recycled materials, cute Christmas boxes from last year's cards and decorations from pine cones at an afternoon workshop tomorrow (noon-4pm) at Bog of Allen Nature Centre, in Lullymore, which is run by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Adults might be more interested in the centre's exhibition Boglands, which explains how Irish boglands evolved, what lives on the bogs and what role bringing in the turf played in rural life for centuries. Admission to the nature centre costs €2.
Pond dippingNets are provided so small children can dip for all manner of watery beasties and bugs. Older children might be more entertained by the selection of insect-eating plants. The Venus flytrap should be still busy; others will be conserving energy at this time of year.
Free tea and coffeeThe nature centre doesn't have a coffee shop, so it offers free tea and coffee and some home-made biscuits to go with it - a really nice touch.
WhereBog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co Kildare, 045-860133 or 01-8722397, www.ipcc.ie.
If that's too farTake a leaf from the centre's book and get busy at the kitchen table, making Christmas cards from recycled materials, including leaves and berries from the garden or park. It's in keeping with the spirit of the times.