It beats flowers anytime

Actor and tv personality Stephen Fry has found the perfect Mother’s Day gift. He's dedicated a hectare of the Cambridgeshire Fens to his mother. He did this on-line through interactive charity Healthy Planet, so he doesn't have to worry about finding a large enough piece of wrapping paper!

The “smartest man on TV” chose a thoughtful, original and environmentally friendly gift – unlike the 4m of us planning to send flowers this year. By adopting a hectare in the internationally important Great Fen Project conservation area, he's helping to preserve it for generations to come. Since the football pitch-sized area of wetland is home to hundreds of rare plants, it will stay greener much longer than a bunch of daffodils.

Through Healthy Planet's website (see below), you can click any location on Google Earth to adopt it. Stephen Fry chose the Great Fen Project as he's been its President since 2006 . But there's plenty of choice for the rest of us.

There are around 77,000 other parks and reserves worldwide. If you want an even more personalised gift, you could choose a favourite holiday location, somewhere that means a lot to your family, even your house! Healthy Planet will find a conservation project to benefit from your donation.

Or why not adopt a plot in the Great Fen and become Stephen Fry's neighbour?

Once you adopt, a virtual plaque appears on Google Maps/Earth visible to all website visitors, so you can show the world how much your Mum means to you. You can see Stephen Fry's personalised message and photo at www.healthyplanet.org/Stephenfry

Stephen says: “The fens stand as one of the most misunderstood, neglected and extraordinary features of the British landscape. I am proud to be involved with a new drive to protect, understand and evangelise this unique part of our country.”

Shaylesh Patel, Founder of Healthy Planet, explains:“We’re very excited Stephen has chosen to adopt land online as his Mother’s Day Gift. He's well-known for his interests in both technology and conservation so it means a great deal for Healthy Planet to have his support. Whether you are buying for your young children to gift or your own Mother, there is no better way to say thank you than by helping preserve the Mother Earth for all mums now and in the future.”

Your adoption can last for as long as you want – just until next Mothers Day, or forever for a really special gift. Prices start at £10 to adopt a hectare for a year. Larger plots & longer durations are available, and Healthy Planet guarantees at least 90% of the adoption fee goes to on-the-ground conservation work.

If you're not as tech-savvy as Stephen Fry and feel daunted by the idea of flying around Google Maps/Earth, Healthyplanet offers a “Quick Adopt” option; set up an account and provide details of where you'd like your donation and land to be and you'll get your plot within 48 hours.

More information: www.healthyplanet.org