Emily Hobson-Martin: December's blog: a 'green' Christmas, Sidmouth's festive lights, and the Chit Rocks access campaign

Sidmouth mum and children's book author Emily Hobson-Martin has partnered up with Nub News to talk all about being a mum in Sidmouth whilst doing her best to teach her children, and others, through her children's books, to love nature and take care of our planet.

Emily has a two-year-old daughter and a second baby on the way, and is passionate about wildlife, nature, writing and illustration. She is a youth worker by 'trade' but has set up, and runs her self publishing book business alongside her day job and the usual trials and tribulations of family life.

In this festive edition I am going to talk about entertaining the little ones on these dark nights with our beautiful, sparkling streets, and a local project which might just make Sidmouth 'beach life' that little bit easier for us all.

First up though, are you dreaming of a sustainable Christmas? I am! Whether you are a last minute 'bah humbug' type, or as keen as a Christmas elf, there's no hiding from the festivities- especially if you have children in your life.

This year's Christmas cheer seemed to start particularly early too; by mid November, I started to notice the odd twinkle here and Christmas wreath there - early birds, spurred on no doubt by the fairly bleak year that we are leaving behind us.

Now, I am a big fan of the 25th of December, but I'm not as keen on the increased levels of consumption and the 'want, want, want' mentality it seems to bring out in many of us. I am by no means perfect when it comes to my carbon footprint but I do try to reduce our impact on the planet.

Here are a few things I am trying this year to make Christmas fun for the family AND kinder to the planet.

- DIY Christmas decorations: There are so many ideas online to help you along the way- from toilet roll Santas to pine cone garlands- there are lots of ways to make your home look and feel festive with less impact on the planet. Easy eco-friendly Christmas decorations. Also - it's so much more fun to get crafty with the kids, well I'd prefer that over a shopping spree any day!

- Think about your wrapping: We haven't all got time to perfect our Furoshiki skills - the Japanese art of wrapping with fabric - but we can still give it a good go! Or perhaps turn to some simpler eco wrapping methods. Brown paper and paper tape, re- used gift bags or even colouring sheets from books that your children have completed, these are all better than the non-recyclable, plastic wrapped rolls that can be found in some shops. There are some good recyclable wrapping papers out there too, just look out for the recycling instructions on the label. For local advice and tips on festive recycling from EDDC, visit the council's website

- Quit the over-consumption: I'm a bit of a David Attenborough fan so when he says something, it tends to stick in my mind. He has a message which couldn't be simpler; 'Just don't waste'. Whether its scaling back on your Christmas food shop*, thinking about whether aunty Florence will actually wear those new socks or if the children really need that extra gift for under the tree, there are so many ways we can cut back.

It can be hard as a parent, or anyone for that matter, to not buy brand new gifts for your loved ones but I have ditched the 'second hand stigma' this year and tried to source some gifts that are pre-loved; either from our local charity shops or 'buy and sell' sites (As long as it's done in a 'Covid safe' way!)

• you could also think about cutting down on the meat this year! A mainly vegetarian/ vegan diet is much more sustainable for our planet.

Now, I feel that it's my duty to help out the parents and carers of Sidmouth by letting you in on our worst kept secret. It is a biggy and it might just make the hour or two between dinner and bedtime, on these long, dark nights, a little more fun. Of course I'm talking about the incredible Christmas light displays dotted around the town. The high street itself is looking beautiful, starting with a pair of flying reindeer on the left, before our small businesses light the way to the seafront and Market Square which is brightly lit in all its twinkling glory. Look up to the right as you go past the Christmas shop in Church Street and you may just see some elves at work!

If heading into town isn't what you fancy, there is one area in particular which feels like you're heading into some kind of Narnia dreamland. Step off of Woolbrook road, on the same side as the school, and up amongst the side roads and bungalows you'll be transported into a true winter wonderland! The residents here have gone all out and provided us with a whole range of light displays, polar bears, swirling projections and icicles, it really is beautiful. So thank you, from one little girl at least, to these creative Christmas helpers!

I'd like to finish up by inviting you to come for a (virtual) walk with me to our beautiful beach. Transport yourselves in your minds to summer, if 'slightly warmer than winter' is your preferred beach climate, or stay wrapped up in your coats and hats for a blustery dog walk on the sand. However you use our wonderful beach, I think I'm safe in saying that it is one of our towns greatest assets. Growing up in Sidmouth allowed me the great privilege of exploring rockpools, spending long, summer days splashing and swimming and sailing… great memories which I'm sure I share with many. But for some, being able to access the beach isn't so easy. We may have an accessible promenade, perfect for people with mobility needs, pushchairs and small children, but getting past the pebbles and down to the sand with anything wheeled, or if you're less stable on your feet, can be a real issue. The Chit Rocks beach ramp project aims to solve this! According to their GoFundMe page (where you can make a donation if you wish): "Access onto the sand for parents, grandparents, people with a disability or the frail elderly is very difficult at the moment. The aim is to build a safe permanent ramp to allow access straight onto the sand at Chit Rocks. Having a ramp will benefit all those people who either struggle to get onto the beach at present, or are completely denied access."

For more information or to donate, visit the GoFundMe page.

You can also follow the journey, started by Sidmouth resident Dave Rafferty, on the Facebook page where you can also 'like, follow and share' posts to show your support. Dave said he started the campaign, which is due to be completed in time for next summer, because: "After experiencing first hand the difficulty of getting onto the beach with toddlers and pushchairs, it occurred to me that anyone who was frail or had problems with mobility would find it impossible. In talking with other beach users the idea of the ramp was born."

I'm certainly very excited about this as next year I'll have a toddler AND a newborn to entertain on the beach, so this can only be a good thing to get behind!

So that's it from me. I am hoping to be able to write again in January as I get closer to welcoming our brand new human into the world. I hope you have enjoyed reading this and please feel free to check out my Facebook page Hilda's Planet where I try to share nature and reading based ideas for children. You can also check out my children's books at www.hildasplanet.co.uk. You can head to Flutterbys or Paragon books in Sidmouth to see them in real life!

I also welcome any questions or feedback so please don't hesitate to direct message me on Hilda's Planet Facebook page or email [email protected].

Wishing you all a magical few weeks and a very happy new year!