We invite you to take a fresh look at Haslemere as the destination for discovering a range of unusual and planet-friendly gifts. Try, if possible, to walk or cycle to the shops, or to leave the car at home and take the bus. That way, you will not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also avoid the aggravations of struggling to find a parking space or the constraints of getting back to the car before the ticket runs out. You will have time to pop into shops you have never explored before and experience the more unaccustomed pleasure of friendly, personal service. You will have more leisure to take time out from shopping and take refreshment in one of the town's many cafés. Supporting our local traders is vital for a sustainable and resilient community, as well as being more fun!
We will start our tour of the shops in West Street. At Carlo Independent Italian Restaurant & Delicatessen, you can purchase gift tokens for the restaurant and Italian Christmas hampers.
Between the Lines is part of a high street chain, and it is encouraging to see many attractive gifts that are made in the UK from sustainable resources and are bio-degradable or recyclable.
Gallery Thirteen is a great place to discover the work of local artists and find unique art and craft gifts, many of which are produced in the studio on the premises, with much thought given to sustainability in the production process and packaging.
Sass & Spirit is an independent lifestyle, gifts and homewares store, stocked with a bountiful, eclectic mix of products, with a preference for eco-friendly products where available.
Turning left into the High Street, we quickly come to Haslemere Bookshop. Here, you will find lovingly selected books to suit all ages and interests. If, and when, you feel ready to pass them on, you can sell them back to the second-hand department upstairs. Better still, you may find the ideal gift in the pre-loved section!
On the other side of the road, the Museum Shop and Scope Shop are often the source of sustainable stocking fillers.
Between the last two shops is Curated Living, specialising in quirky, unique and luxurious products for home and lifestyle, fron authentic vintage to contemporary finds. By nature of the eclectic collection, products are sourced from all over the world. For many products, air miles are balanced balanced by pre-loved, long-lived vintage and durable, eco-friendly hand-crafted items made from natural materials.
Although we are not covering clothes shops in this article, we should probably mention Plum, which sells pre-loved and new designer clothing, where you may find an extra-special outfit for a loved one, helping your purse and the planet.
(If you are looking for pre-loved gifts or sustainable greetings cards, do check out the Cancer Research Shop on Petworth Road and the Tantum Trust Shop, 2c High Street.)
At the other end of the High Street, in Raymond Reid Photo, you can purchase gift vouchers for a wide range of photo services, including fun ways to creatively transform photos and printing on a range of items - mugs, jigsaws, slates, canvases, toys, etc., creating unique gifts.
Back on the car-park side, Notte Della Villa, a vintage and antique shop, is a very sustainable business that uses eco-friendly materials to restore and update pre-loved items.
Marley Flowers takes orders for the delivery of flowers anywhere in the UK, from local florists. There are several eco-friendly options. Flowers are wrapped in paper, not cellophane. The little shop is full of planted arrangements, gifts and, particularly at Christmas and Easter, artisan chocolates from the UK and Belgium.
On the corner of High Street and Lower Street, you will find Rock 'N' Shards, specialising in Gems, Glass, Jewellery and Gifts. There are sustainable choices, e.g., avoiding mined gems, choosing glass over plastic, and jewellery made with English silver.
At 13a Lower Street, is Party Arty, which runs classes and workshops for children and adults. You can buy gift vouchers for these sessions, resourced with eco-friendly materials - a lovely gift to inspire a new hobby?
Right out on Hindhead Road, next door to Shottermill Club, is Past & Present. It’s a bit of a jaunt from the High Street, but not to be missed! This small shop is packed with lovely gifts, selected with a preference for those that are sustainably sourced and packaged.
Left till last, but certainly not least, are two Haslemere florists who do not have a physical presence in the town but create flower bunches, arrangements and displays with locally-grown flowers:
Bunch Lane Florist prioritises sustainability and works with local growers and home-grown flowers, to prepare simple, natural-looking bunches, arranged in vintage glass vases. Events, Bouquets, Farewell Flowers, Christmas Wreaths. https://www.bunchlane.com/
The Random Florists offer seasonal door wreaths, garlands and table decorations, hanging decorations and installations, and unique bouquets of fresh flowers that are homegrown or sourced locally wherever possible https://www.therandomflorist.co.uk/index.php
We are blessed in Haslemere to have so many independent businesses, committed to the town and eager to do what they can to support its sustainability in what are very challenging conditions for retailers. Please support them!
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