Christmas Deck the doors with Kentish holly


Christmas is fast approaching, so why not ditch the supermarket door wreath in favour of one made at home. Simon Finlay learns more…


Q


uite when wreaths were first invented and then became a fixture in cultural expression has never been fully understood. For as long as people have arranged flowers and plants, perhaps in ancient Greece or the Roman Empire, there have been such decorative adornments.


In the British context, displays of flowers at funerals or circles of poppies on Remembrance Day are a given.


But the Christmas wreath hung on doors is thought more to be symbolic of life, and the use of evergreens such as holly and ivy, the representation of everlasting life. Advent wreaths, however, have four candles, oſten with a white candle in the centre - the Christ candle - which is lit on Christmas Day. For the non-religious, it is a sign of as a special, peaceful time of year.


In Kent, wreath-making is something of a cottage industry, with small teams producing pieces with the raw materials gathered locally in the late autumn to be crafted and sold on to local shops, farmers’ markets or left for sale at the end of driveways.


Of course, there are large retailers, which also stock a range of the products in the lead up to the festive season.


So the Christmas wreath is very much a fashionable item today, but what is even more ‘in’ is making it yourself. Needless to say there a million designs and almost as many possible natural materials to play with. So really, the look and design is down to you.


Here is a handy step-by-step guide to keep you on the right track…


Collect your materials


In the many wooded areas around Kent there are birches, holly bushes – many laden with their orange/red berries – different sorts of ivy, as well as pine cones and conifer branches. Ask a florist for the availability of scabious balls, hypericum berries, rosemary and eucalyptus. Do also ask for some moss, which will be a key raw ingredient of the wreath.


Make your wreath ring


Use an old hanger from the wardrobe or some stiff industrial offcut wire and make


the circle – about 30 - 45cms in width. Some florists’ moss can be wrapped around this ring and then secure this in place, winding a finer wire with two inch gaps around the circle in a clockwise motion. Pull the wire tightly so it is robust and secure. Alternatively, many florists stock ready-made rings for a couple of pounds.


Trim your stems


Depending on the materials you are using, make sure there is a long enough stem to fit securely under the wound wire on the mossy ring. Ensure you have enough of each material for the design you have in mind. Ideally, the stem should be between four and six inches long, laying two or three stems at a time. You will probably need to make about 18 groups to fill your wreath.


Start arranging


Tis is the creative part of the process, where the wreath-maker has a free hand to arrange the foliage in whatever way they see fit. But the general rule of thumb is to take the first group of stems and lay them diagonally across the wreath ring. Use more wire to secure the base of the stems to the wreath ring. Grab a second bundle and lay them just below the first, securing with a length of wire. Continue this sequence around the ring in a


32 Mid Kent Living


Tere are many workshops running in the autumn and running up to Christmas where you can learn how to make wreaths in time for the festive season. Sessions, which typically last a few hours, can cost £25 - £40. Check out organisations such as the Women’s Institute, Kent Wildlife Trust, Visit Kent or your local florist for local classes.


clockwise direction until it is covered. Prune and personalise


Lastly, it is time to trim, prune and personalise. Some like to weave some ribbon, tinsels or decorations into the final wreath to add an extra flourish.


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