MAKE YOUR OWN WREATH
A bit of creative foliage is a quick, cheap and – crucially – fun way to decorate your home
you will need:
Lengths of willow for your wreath – you can also use grapevine or buy ready-made twig wreaths from florist wholesalers if you struggle to find what you’re looking for in the hedgerows
Secateurs
Thin floristry wire
Wire cutters
Evergreen prunings, such as fir or spruce – try suggesting to a neighbour that you swap varieties Sprigs of fresh herbs such as bay and rosemary
Prunings of scented foliage – we love eucalyptus
Interesting dried flowers and seed heads (we used hydrangeas)
Any long-lasting foraged finds from walks, such as pine cones
Ribbon or linen strips for hanging
1 Work your way along the length of willow, gently bending it so that it becomes pliable. Form it into a circle that will be the framework of your wreath. Secure with a small piece of florist’s wire, wrapping it round a couple of times and twisting the ends together. You may need to do this in several places.
2 Gather your chosen greenery and create little bouquets – three is a good number to work with – securing them with florist’s wire.
3 Working in one direction, attach your bouquets around the wreath with small pieces of florist’s wire. You can either cover the whole wreath, place decorations at intervals, or just cover a section of the wreath – all options look good. Depending on the size of the bouquets, you may need to secure them to the wreath at the top and the bottom.
4 Once you’re happy with the greenery, choose some statement pieces such as pine cones or flower heads and tie them in with wire.
5 Knot a piece of linen or ribbon at the top of your wreath for hanging, then find a place to hang it with pride.