A real corker - eco-friendly flooring

Cork is one of the most sustainable materials money can buy. Carefully harvested every nine years from the bark of the Cork Oak tree, the industry helps to maintain ancient landscapes and local economies around the Mediterranean. In the Portuguese village of Luzianes, for one, 80 per cent of the people depend on cork for an income. Cork flooring is a double eco-bonus as it’s made almost entirely from wine corks - so squidgy warmth underfoot should leave you feeling particularly smug and snug. Wicanders has apparently been supplying cork since 1868 and its original range looks mighty fine, although it also stocks jazzier versions. For total peace of mind and happy toes, buy it untreated and seal with water based products rather than acrylic varnish. Prices vary hugely, so give Wicanders a call for a quote. [Written by Alissa Pemberton]