1. 10 January 2015 | The Guardian
20 The Guardian December 2014
Do Something
Clusters of berries, verdant branches
of pines and conifers, and, of course,
the holly and the ivy. This is
Christmas decorating at its best.
It’s incredibly satisfying, as every
dog walk or park visit becomes a hunt
for fallen treasure, and you search for
the perfect branch to take home and
transform. And even better, it’s free.
If you don’t have a garden, your
local park or wood will offer up plenty
of material. You shouldn’t take plants
from sites of scientific interest, nature
reserves or private property –
although I don’t think anyone would
begrudge a few fallen leaves or
branches. If you’re in doubt, ask
permission first.
And remember that all of these
branches and berries, leaves
and seedheads are shelter
and food for our wildlife.
Don’t strip the woodland
bare, and be sure you leave
enough for those who rely
on it to get through winter.
DoSomething
Creative
20
Alys Fowler on
Winterforaging Making your own wreath is pleasingly
simple and hugely satisfying. The
trick is not to end up making a
mountain of them, because once
you’ve made the first one it’s hard not
to get addicted and think that every
door needs one.
You will need:
Secateurs
String/raffia/twine/florist wire
A spool of cotton
Method:
1. First, make a base. The best rings
are made from willow or dogwood, but
any supple young growth that can be
woven together and held with string
will do. You’ll need three to five supple
shoots, each around a metre in length.
2. Using your knee, bend the shoots
to start to form a circle. You shouldn’t
need string with willow or dogwood,
just wrap the shoot around itself.
3. Then, moving round slightly from
where you started, tuck the next
shoot in, wrapping it round as you go
for strength. Add more shoots as you
see fit, but don’t pull the wreath too
tight or you won’t be able to tuck the
decorations in.
4. Once you’ve got a suitably sized
ring, go to your garden or along a
hedgerow and pick out anything that
pleases you to use as decoration. Dried
flowers, seedheads, rosemary, sage,
bay leaves and other sweet-smelling
evergreen herbs work well. You could
use rosehips, holly berries, crab
apples, cinnamon quills or chillies, or
Awreathforthedoor1
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Creative
A wreath, edible tree
decorations, a snow
globe and potato-
printed wrapping
paper – four quick
and easy festive
projects
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2. The Guardian December 2014 21
Do Something
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21
STYLING
Nancy Straughan
PHOTOGRAPHY
Graeme Robertson
I have a thing for lichen-covered
branches: I am forever collecting
them up at the allotment. A
large filled vase is most pleasing,
perhaps with fairy lights or, if the
branches are large enough, with
hanging tea-light holders. You
could even put a bird on it. Etsy
has endless bird garlands to be
woven through.
If lichen isn’t your thing, then
colourful stems of dogwood
or willow, the contrast of
eucalyptus, the bright green
stems of Kerria japonica, a few
twigs of the snowberry (that front
garden favourite with big white
berries), Symphoricarpos albus. I
even like small-leaved lime, Tilia
cordata, at this time of year, when
the stem tips go a slight orange
colour.
The trick here is to embrace the
starkness of a leafless branch, so
allow enough space for each stem
to be viewed.
Avaseof
sprigsyou could do something fancy with
dried citrus peel.
5. Build up the greenery – holly, ivy,
pine needles etc – and then add the
flowers/fruit/seedheads, poking
the stems into your woven wooden
wreath base. Imagine a clock face
– 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock – as a guide
and then build up from there. Either
agree that less is more, or throw all
the rules out and freestyle – but be
bold and generous. Nothing looks
sadder than a thin Christmas wreath
on a door.
6. You’ll need to hang up your
wreath with raffia, a ribbon bow
or a hidden wire loop at the back.
Just remember it needs to be strong
enough to take the door swinging
back and forth.
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The Guardian | January 2015 11