Sustainable spring wedding decorations

Spring has definitely sprung here in North Devon and even though we had a hard frost a couple of nights ago with another predicted tonight, the daffodils are in full bloom, with hellebores nodding and primroses holding their faces up to the sun in the woodland parts of the garden. The soil's warming up and the sap's rising. The pesky rabbit has made himself known in the veg patch, already nibbling my tiny salad seedlings - I think his time is coming!

Planning an ethical spring wedding can be an absolute joy! You'll still want to have the local organic wedding breakfast indoors, even though the gods may smile on you with a warm sunny day. But what a wealth of decoration ideas. Easter is just round the corner and the colours are fresh and brand new. Yellow is predominant but there are masses of subtle tones of blues and dusky pinks and real lime green too.

Natural blossom is dripping from the trees and one of my favourite looks is masses of cherry blossom combined with tulips. If you're planning ahead don't forget to order your tulip bulbs later in the year so that you have plenty of home grown tulips for a spring wedding in 2008.

Foliage is all fresh and new and if you don't have enough of your own, Tregothnan offers wonderful boxes of mixed organic seasonal home grown English foliage freshly cut from the Estate in Cornwall which can create a very natural and English look to your wedding. They're immensely proud of their track record, the estate has been sustainable since 1335, using sustainable methods of agriculture, while supporting the local community. They also offer a selection of fresh organic foliage garlands - made to order - that can be used to decorate tables, staircases, fireplaces and marquee poles.

Remember, using seasonal and British flowers and foliage will not only help reduce your carbon footprint, but it will help the local community to flourish and will by default be a cheaper way of decorating your wedding day - its eco-chic and very green! Talk to your florist, raid your mum's garden, support your local farmer's market, but whatever you do, don't pick flowers from the wild.

British grown flowers in season at this time of the year include primroses, hellebores, daffodils, scented narcissi, hyacinths, anemones, fritillaries, grape hyacinths, beautiful scented violets, willow, colourful cornus, forsythia, catkins, cherry blossom, magnolias and wonderful big branches of bursting fresh leaves, with gorgeous apple blossom following soon.