HOW did you celebrate National Grandparents’ Day? So, you missed it (October 6)? Never mind, it’s never too late.

The day was introduced some years ago, as a way of reminding the younger generation not to forget their elders, especially as many elderly people are in bad health, some are poor, and many feel isolated. Some suggestions were, make a photo album, bake a cake together, play a game, go for a walk, or watch a film together. The day was even supported by some insurance and holiday travel companies.

All very well and good. But, what of those many grandparents who are comfortable enough and in good health, but feel that they are the ones who should be doing the giving? A national grandchildren’s day perhaps?

The following is not exactly the sort of present you could wrap in gift paper, but you can’t beat a liveable climate for our grandchildren (or any children for that matter).

More and more grandparents are becoming interested in making some contribution to tackling the climate crisis, but are unsure how to go about it. A national association is being formed at the moment to bring together grandparents (and other seniors) who are concerned about climate change.

There are also local Climate Change study groups within a number of local University of the Third Age branches. U3A is the largest educational institution in the country.

A lot is still being discovered about climate change; much of it worrying, but some of it quite hopeful. Grandparents need to be better informed about this. Does it make any difference? Perhaps it’s a bit like putting money in trust for grandchildren’s eighteenth birthday. They don’t notice it now, and we don’t know what they are going to spend it on. But perhaps it’s enough that we realize, and they realize, that we wanted to give them the best possible climate for their future.