12 Days of Christmas - day 1: Gifts for wildlife lovers

We’re celebrating the run up to Christmas a little early with our very own 12 Days of Christmas Gift Guide. Throughout November, we’ll be uploading a selection of gifts for everyone from gardeners to lovers of food, pet owners to families, in order to help you find perfect presents tailored to your loved ones’ interests..

We start with some fantastic Christmas ideas for wildlife lovers:

Solar Insect Theatre, Eden Project: £34.75
A unique gift for the curious, this insect box has a solar light which comes on automatically at dusk, attracting insects inside. The inspection chamber allows you to get up close and personal with your catch the next day without causing them any harm. Made of FSC wood, this is an environmentally friendly present that aids a real engagement with garden wildlife.

Brunton Echo 7x18 Pocket Scope, Awooza UK: £18.99
This pocket sized monocular produces a bright and sharp image as close as 33 centimeters. Built with prism glass, this visual aid is lightweight and includes a carry case and wrist lanyard. It’s perfect for avid twitchers and other wildlife lovers who are exploring the countryside or simply enjoying peeking into their gardens from the comfort of their home.

Window Feeder Gift Pack, RSPB: £25.71 
This exciting pack makes the ideal gift for nature lovers without gardens, as it can be used to attract birds close to your windows. A window bird feeder, various bird foods and a RSPB reusable jute shopping bag are included in this gift that could provide hours of entertainment.

British Birds Automatic Walking Umbrella, Cath Kidston: £30.00
This classic-style walking umbrella opens with the touch of a button and has a leatherette handle for a comfortable grip. It’s main appeal, however, is its vibrant print: adorned with colourful British Birds on a black background. Bird lovers would love this stylish umbrella, and it could certainly brighten up a gloomy day. If you like the print, other products – including a bag and laptop sleeve – come in this design too.

FSC Guide to British Mammal Tracks and Signs, The Mammal Society: £3.50
This fold out guide will help a wildlife enthusiast identify the field signs mammals leave behind. Divided into four illustrated sections – tracks, droppings, burrows and feeding remains –this makes a very useful aid for teaching children about wildlife and learning about tracking yourself. Laminated to protect against the British weather, it is suitable for use on the go or closer to home.

Echoes Ceramic Bird Bath, RSPB: £14.99
This glazed, ceramic bird bath makes a stunning garden feature, as well as a functional gift for any bird lover. The first stanza of William Blake’s ‘Auguries of Innocence’ is inscribed around the edge of the bowl, reading: 'to see a world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.' High-fired and frost resistant, the dish is designed with ripple marks and a grated depth to make it safer for birds to scrub up in.

Good Natured Gifts, RSPB: From £10.00
The RSPB is offering the chance to give a gift that really keeps on giving. If you’re buying for an animal lover keen on conservation, a Good Natured Gift could be perfect. These meaningful gifts allow you to sponsor the protection of certain species – for just £10 you can fund a Goldeneye Nest Box, ensuring a safe place to bring up a brood out of reach of predators. You can focus on native British wildlife by planting Hedgerow for Hedgehogs or support conservation further afield such as Sumatran Tigers in Indonesia.

Frog and Toad House, Eden Project: £34.75
This wood construction provides a safe retreat for native frogs and toads, away from some of their many predators – ranging from snakes and lizards to birds or hedgehogs. The worldwide frog population has been in decline for several years due to increasing pollution levels, making now a great time to help conserve these amphibians. The house is dual chambered to create two kinds of climate and the durable wood build has an natural aesthetic, to fit into any garden.



Countryfile 2012 Calendar: £9.00
Featuring stunning wildlife and rural photography, the Countryfile 2012 Calendar makes a lovely gift for appreciators of British nature. Each month features a different photographic competition winner and almost half the proceeds go towards BBC Children in Need.

Ceramic Bumblebee Skep Nester, Selections: £19.99 
This ceramic take on traditional straw or wicker skeps makes an attractive home for bumble bees. This practical product will encourage bees into the garden where they can pollinate plants, and plays a vital role in conserving this important insect. Adaptable in the way it is used, the skep may be used with or without its base and being situated at floor level, it involves little set up before you can begin beekeeping.

Dedicate A Tree Gift Box, Gift Republic: £24.99

An environmentally friendly gift which allows its recipient to choose where in the UK they would like a British broad-leaved tree to be planted. Easy to follow instructions enable simple registration online or by post. With this gift you receive a certificate signed by David Bellamy of ‘Tree Appeal!’ and your tree is planted in an area in need of forestation. For similar gift packs, Gift Republic also offer animal adoptions and the chance to name a star.

Butterly and Moth Habitat and Feeder, Eden Project: £18.50
Butterflies are arguably our most beautiful insects. Welcome them into your loved ones’ gardens by purchasing them a butterfly and moth habitat and feeder. Specially designed to emulate natural conditions, this FSC certified timber construction is highly functional as well as stylish. A special ultra violet paint on the feed tray attracts butterflies and it can be used for roosting and hibernating.

Keep your eyes peeled for more great Christmas ideas coming soon. On November 4 we’ll be bringing you our top 12 gift ideas for walkers.

And look out for the December issue of Countryfile Magazine, on sale 16 November, where we've chosen our favourite countryside Christmas presents - from a traditional sledge to an entire veg patch you can give as a gift.