Orange and scarlet show

The brightly-coloured berries of cotoneaster are used to make simple, festive arrangements. They can be used individually to fill bowls, in which case they are carefully detached from the stems. Other decorations use sprigs of berries. Any that are bruised, cut or have soft spots are discarded. Each berry is cleaned using water and a soft cloth. When displayed, the berries are checked periodically. Those which show signs of rotting, such as dark or soft spots, are removed. Cotoneaster berries are classed as having a low toxicity and should not be eaten.

Individual berries are piled into fluted baking dishes, with a candle in the centre. Fir cones, clusters of cotoneaster berries with leaves and a sprig of fir all hang from red and green ribbons. Thick clusters of cotoneaster berries are tied to a wire...