Ideas to make our Christmas tree branches even more brilliant

We all love decorations that come out every Christmas – an evocative tree-hanging that's been handed down through the generations, for instance. But it's good to have some contemporary delights in the mix, too, alongside old friends.

If your tree decorations are looking a little tired, and you're in need of festive flair, take a gander at these. They might just be the Christmas crackers you're after…

Have a look at these, from department store Jarrold. (London Street, Norwich. jarrold.co.uk)

Heaven Sends Green & Gold Hanging Glass Bauble, £2.50.

Heaven Sends Glitter Deer, £2.

Nkuku Set of 12 Glass Dewdrop Baubles, £24.95.

Notcutts, the garden-centres-and-more business whose roots are firmly in East Anglia, has centres in Norfolk and Suffolk. And some stylish decorations. notcutts.co.uk

A bowl of festive baubles, including (from left) ridged silver bauble with copper glitter, £2.99; teal indent bauble, £2.99; dark teal matt glass bauble, £2.99; gold glass bauble with floral pattern gems, £2.99. (Not available online, only in-store.)

Decorated Christmas tree includes:

Ribbed traditional glass baubles, £2.99. Colours vary. Ribbed traditional glass baubles available only in green online, but can be bought in-store in other colours.

Blue glitter baubles (also available in pink and purple), £1.99.

Colourful nutcracker, £2.99.

'Antique gold with silver glitter' hanging decoration, £2.99

Blackthorpe Barn is famous for its Country Christmas Shop – this year billed as bigger and better than ever. There are angels, paper chains and garlands galore (and more) at the barn on the Rougham Estate, near Bury St Edmunds. Here are some lovely tree-hanging temptations. blackthorpebarn.com

Fruit and Nutcracker: The fruit and nutcracker theme is founded on rich colours in green and red, and this beautiful tartan is popular this Christmas, £2.99.

Enchanted Garden: This enchanted garden theme is a real showstopper this Christmas, with gold jewels dotted amongst gorgeous glittery sparkle, £3.59.

Seven Swans a Swimming: This elegant design forms part of the Seven Swans a Swimming theme – one that celebrates the purity of icy lakes combined with frozen crystals, £8.49.

Roys is a well-known name in Norfolk and Suffolk. Its flagship department store is in Wroxham, but its reach extends as far as Sudbury. roys.co.uk

Glass Bird Bauble 8cm: A pretty pink glass bauble featuring a sparkly snow-covered branch and a sweet festive bird, £3.99

Bark Birdhouse with Reindeer: A decoration made from natural materials that would fit in well with a real or artificial Christmas tree, £2.49

And something different from Highway Garden & Leisure (five minutes from Norwich southern bypass, on Loddon Road, and at highwaygardencentre.co.uk)…

Painted Glass Frog hanging decoration: A fairy-tale frog made from delicate glass with a pearl necklace and a Royal crown, ready to be kissed by his princess, £2.99

Among the delights at Snape Maltings in east Suffolk are:

Blue Glittery Peacock, £30

Wooden House, £3.50

Acrylic Humming Bird, £4.75

And finally: to spread some seasonal goodwill, let's give a plug to EACH.

We can buy a bauble and into the bargain support East Anglia's Children's Hospices appeal to build a new hospice south of Norwich.

The limited-edition glass butterfly baubles contain a handmade, purple, origami butterfly and sparkling gold lametta. All baubles come in a purple satin-lined box, too.

They can be obtained by donating £15 online. The bauble will be ready to collect from the intu Chapelfield shopping centre's information desk (in Norwich) after10am the next day. More details: each.org.uk