Have you ever brought an IKEA bag into the woods before? It was a first for me, too.
Yesterday morning we awoke to a sparkling blanket of frost, a tentative reminder that the cold grip of winter is waiting just around the corner. For now, it merely kisses the ground with a sleep-in-too-late-and-you’ll-miss-it frosting, but one we found ourselves gleefully pulling our wellies on to experience. Because yesterday… was wreath day.
For the last few years I’ve disappeared into the local woodland on the last weekend of November. It’s become a quiet tradition before the twinkle-laden intensity of the festive season hits; before the paths on my favourite route become too waterlogged and swampy to tread through. (As it happens, we still returned with a thick layer of mud hugging our trousers and caking Digby’s fur, but we shan’t dwell on that). It’s become a beautiful way for me to appreciate the last breaths of autumn and bring the outside indoors to make one of my favourite things.
At their core
Wreaths are traditionally an unbroken circle. A symbol of infinity; the never-ending cycle of the seasons. They’re a reminder that even as the natural world dies down, bountiful plant life will come back again next year – as it did earlier this year and every year that came before it. A common feature of Christmas décor, evergreens are typically used for festive wreaths, their green leafy foliage serving as a sign that life persists even through the darker months.
Styling the seasons
Last year, my handmade wreath was crafted using lots of #lovelydeadcrap from the woods. Curling, faded leaves, glittering seed heads and gently browning branches married with dried gypsophila to create an everlasting celebration of nature. Over the past 11 months it’s graced our doorway, gradually fading and gathering a light sheet of dust. It was time for something new.
This year, I wanted something wild. While I know it won’t go the same distance that last year’s dried creation did, this weekend’s wreath is a snapshot of the woods at this moment in time. It combines various stages of bracken, winding oak branches, golden beech leaves and classic festive fir with dried seed heads and teasel. It’ll welcome visitors into our home for the next few weeks, until the call of glossy evergreen goodness beckons for a more festive touch.
Create your own
If you want to make your own wreath this year, it really is an incredibly easy craft to try. You’ll just need a few things:
A natural wreath base (I made one using willow twigs, but you can easily buy one online)
A long length of twine
An armful of branches of various styles, lengths and shades. You could also mix in dried flowers or sprays of rosehips for a little colour
Ribbon for hanging
Simply secure your twine to your base, and attach clusters of branches by wrapping the twine around them. Work around the circle, overlapping your clusters each time to hide the ends until your wreath is nice and full. If you find yourself with any bare patches, you can always add some extra sprigs at the side, gently pushing into gaps in the base. When you’re happy, loop a ribbon around the base and hang to finish!
While I truly love making wreaths, my real highlight is always collecting my ingredients. I couldn’t recommend anything more for a mindful late-autumn outing than heading to the woods with a pair of snips. There’s something so calming about noticing the subtle beauty around you and watching how your selection evolves. Just make sure that you only forage where there is abundance, leave the landscape looking as you found it, and – most importantly – remember to bring your IKEA bag to carry it all in!