Why make a wreath anyway?

My Mum always used to put a wreath on my Dad's grave at Christmas time. I always thought that Dad would say "Don't waste your money", but that if she had died first he would have been sure to visit and leave home- grown seasonal flowers. Once my mother passed away, I was faced with a dilemma. How do I keep my Dad happy by not wasting money, and my Mum happy by laying a wreath? I half solved it by making what could loosely be seen as a wreath with things from my garden. Last year I used materials from Barlow common, but it still wasn't perfect. So when the chance came to join a Christmas wreath-making course at Stirley for a YWT Christmas blog, I jumped at it.

'Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience'

Those of us who spend time at our YWT reserves expect things to change. We see the passing of the seasons each year. We see nature dealing with droughts and drenchings. We clear the fallen trees and watch as new life fills up the gaps. So when life got in the way of my planned Stirley visit, I was still going to make a wreath. Making the short trip to Barlow Common to gather the materials for my very wreath I could see the impact nature and the Barlow Common Task Day group had made over the year. Oh, and I had chosen a beautiful day to go.

The Teasel tell a story

Teasels are not rare or at risk. They’re not a star turn at our reserves. They won’t appear on our YWT membership cards or on the front of our magazines. But their seeds are important for birds such as Goldfinches. Last year, following a dry year, Barlow’s Teasels were small and down in numbers. This year’s rain made them tall and numerous. At this time of year they look great in the sunshine, but given a little snow they become something else altogether.

Sometimes when it's misty they glisten and if the spiders have been out, the scene can become magical as they all become connected with translucent strands. Teasels are beautiful and with a bit of snow, wonderfully Christmassy. Naturally they would be included in my wreath.

The Barlow Task Day team make a difference

As I walked around and gathered the materials for my wreath, I was struck by how much work the team had done at Barlow this year and the impact it made. At the second meadow, we’d cut down a lot of scrub, so now there’s a lot of young growth adding a reddish hue to the area.

Also at the first meadow, we’d taken down the “rabbit proof” fence and cleared the area. I haven’t been around for the most recent Task Days, but it was clear that the team had been hard at work in the area. This view wasn’t possible last year, or even a month ago…

Gathering the materials

Finding decorations for a wreath might appear difficult in December. Berries are few and far between. There isn’t a lot that’s green. But take a closer look and you’ll see subtlety. Pastel greys and purples abound. Even yellow buds on a twig cut down on a recent task day. For green, there’s a handful of moss. For that touch of Christmas red, the odd Rosehip was still about, but not so many as last year.

Having mindfully foraged the materials for the wreath, I laid them out on one of our many picnic tables. Just enough for a wreath, no more. Only common species were taken; these were the things we have to clear on a regular basis. Walking back to the car park, I spotted a clump of Greater Periwinkle (Vinca Major) which can be invasive, so I had no hesitation in adding that bit of extra greenery.

Building a wreath - my way

This is the third wreath I have made in my life. I’ve never looked it up or had training, so I’m sure there are better ways to do it. Having said that, I once met a Mount Everest guide who’d only been up there twice, so I’ve got 50% more experience than him, and wreath making shouldn’t be quite so life threatening.

When constructing your wreath, make sure your willows are the right length - About 4 times your required diameter. If you’re making a 30cm Wreath, you will need willows at least 120cm long. Take a willow and form it into a circle, and weave the ends together. Then weave another one around it from a different point. It might seem to be loose at first, but once you’ve bound a dozen or so together you’ll have a decent frame in which to insert decorations. You can tuck in or cut off any loose pieces. Bear in mind that this is an amateur version. Also, I didn’t just use willow, there are many brown, red and copper pieces lying around. Not quite as supple, so my wreath isn’t really round. There are much better guides to making wreaths online and, of course, at YWT wreath making events. The results I get can best be described as “rustic”, which is fine as I happen to like that look.

Finally, I prop the wreath on my parent’s grave. Rather than stand out, it blends in. No plastic, everything natural and, I hope, rather a nice story for Christmas.