Could you be a Green Valentine? How to make eco-friendly choices for Valentine's Day. 

2. Chocolate
A classic Valentine’s gift. How about looking out for Fairtrade chocolate and again be mindful of packaging. Green and Black sell bars of Fairtrade chocolate wrapped in paper and foil which is 100% recyclable. It becomes more tricky when buying boxes of chocolate as this inevitably means more packaging. One thing to avoid is buying boxes wrapped in film and chocolates individually wrapped in plastic. Instead have a look at the packaging and whether it is recyclable. This can be easier said than done when we are talking about the contents of a sealed box! However, many of the components of a box of chocolates can be recycled: the cardboard box, the plastic tray that the chocolates sit in and the foil they are wrapped in (check with your council). Ultimately though, less packaging is obviously a better option. So, have you considered buying loose chocolates? In Exeter's Gandy Street there is Chococo , a fantastic chocolate shop. Here they sell many chocolates loose, so you can pick exactly what you (or your valentine) like. Do you know of any other shops who sell chocolate like this? They are well worth seeking out. Alternatively, Thornton's is on most High Streets, I know they sell loose chocolates but I'm not sure how they package them. Perhaps you could go along with your own container and ask to use it. I'd love to find out how you get on.

3.Flowers
Another classic gift. You don’t need me to tell you that there aren’t many flowers growing at this time of year! The majority of shop-bought flowers have been imported. Daffodils are in season. Maybe not the most classically romantic, but still beautiful. Try and find some not wrapped in film it’s worth having a look around as shops do vary. I found some simply bunched with an elastic band (which I can, at least, reuse) in my local greengrocers. To make them a more appealing present you could wrap them in paper, maybe you already have some pretty paper in your house. You could use children’s art work, a couple of pages from a magazine or re-use some gift wrap. Alternatively if you want to buy a bouquet you could have a look at www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk a not-for-profit network with over 350 members who run small businesses, farms or gardens. Many of which are able to produce winter displays using winter flowers and foliage grown in your local area.

4. Make a gift, the possibilities are endless! I'm thinking perhaps I might make some heart-shaped cookies this year (I already have the cookie cutters so should be able to make them with my kitchen cupboard ingredients). Now, if you know me, you will know baking is not my strongest skill! However, my children are very enthusiastic bakers so, by helping them, I have picked up a few tips. I have a very simple biscuit recipe that the children have used and is delicious so maybe it's time to dust off my apron! Cookies might not be a traditional option but my kids are quite into the idea of Valentine's Day so they could also receive one of these as a gift.

Do you have any more ideas? I'd love to hear them in the comments.