Five tips for a greener Valentine’s Day

St Valentine??€â„?s Day is just around the corner. To unlock the door to your loved-one’s heart do you a) join the estimated one billion people who buy a mass-produced card and just bung it in the post?; b) follow Nigel??€â„?s tips for an ethical Valentine’s, c) do nothing and sulk when all your friends are wowed by romantic gifts and gestures of the kind outlined below? These are my five tips for a green Valentine. Think of it as a message of love to the planet, as well as your loved-one.

1) Buying underwear is as intimate as it gets. Men have a habit of getting this one disastrously wrong. Tacky red nylon stuff is not good ecologically and the static electricity produced during friction is, frankly, dangerous. Assuming your loved one is of the female ilk, why not buy her a pair of deliciously lovely hemp knickers? Hemp is a great natural fibre and flourishes without the use of insecticides, and when mixed with silk, make a delicious, soft and, dare I say, sexy fabric. Or perhaps a nice pair of boxers for himself?

2) Buy some candles. Avoid nasty chemically-sented ones that smell like air freshener. Simple is best. Turn down the lights. Buy him or her some massage oil. Run a bath. As long as you share it, you’re saving water, right? From there you’re on your own. Use your imagination.

3) Buy an antique ring. Something old can be really individual. Besides, quite enough minerals have been extracted from planet Earth already. Think of it as recycling the romance.

4) If you’re in the UK, go for daffs. Those roses have either been forced to flower in mid February or flown from zillions of miles away. Why not chose something that flowers naturally in the spring? Tulips are nice. A bunch of scented narcissi have a much more heady scent at this time of year than a dozen cellophane wrapped air-freighted roses.

5) Chose some natural organic aphrosidiacs, and cook a beautiful meal ??€â€? spicy in every sense. And then maybe watch a movie. Remember, no self-respecting boy wants to rent Titanic or Brief Encounter. Here are five films it??€â„?s ok for boys to watch with their lover on Valentine??€â„?s Day: The Graduate, Jules Et Jim, Lost In Translation, Gregory??€â„?s Girl and Princess Bride not forgetting My Beautiful Launderette for the men with men in their life. Nothing particularly eco-friendly about that last bit, I know??€¦ but remember to switch off at the mains when you’re done, at least.

Have a good one.

Thanks to xurde for the photo.