Foraging for homemade Christmas decorations

We’re on a mission to do things differently this Christmas, thinking consciously about the vast amounts of waste we create during the festive period. Some 227,000 miles of wrapping paper, 6 million Christmas trees and the equivalent of 2 million turkeys are wasted at this time of year. It might be an uncomfortable thought, but it can also help us to make small, positive changes.

That’s when the idea hit us. What better way to minimise our carbon footprint than scrap the garish tinsel-heavy decorations for something more natural.

Minds whirring and all of a festive buzz, an afternoon foraging on Home Farm in Somerset with Claire Flower was immediately on the cards. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Gordano Valley and being a creative, nature-loving bunch, we didn’t have to pitch the idea twice.

Next thing you know we’re strolling the Somerset countryside with a wicker basket, a pair of secateurs and Molly the dog in tow. Searching high and low for laurel, holly, acorns, rosehips, pinecones, willow shoots and hazel as we dodged intermittent rain showers with stomachs full of pub food. Needless to say, a lovely afternoon was had by all and we ended up with some very festive homemade table decorations and napkin rings.

If you’d like to join us in our mission to live more sustainably this Christmas, then why not have a go at your own homemade decorations. It’s a bit of festive fun and one small step in looking after our planet. Our step-by-step guide (courtesy of Claire Flower) is a great place to get inspired and get the creative juices flowing.

A little housekeeping before we start. Always make sure you have permission from the farmer (or whoever owns the land) to forage. Secondly, if you can’t identify it, don’t pick it. As much as there are some beautiful plants and berries out there, there are also some which are poisonous. Not what you want to be faced with as you sit down to the first mince pie of the season.

To create your central table decoration you will need:

• A medium sized slice of oak or pine, approximately 30cm in diameter (depending on how large you want to make your wreath). You can buy wood slices easily online and can also purchase second-hand, but of course if you happen to be friends with a tree surgeon that’s even better
• Willow or hazel shoots. These will be the base of your wreath so make sure to forage enough to make the size you want
• Holly leaves
• Pine leaves
• Pond pine leaves
• Small pinecones left on their branch (these will look lovely woven into the wreath)
• Pinecones
• Acorns
• Conkers (if some have their shell on that’s okay)
• Dried thistle
• 1 x candle, we chose red

To assemble:

1. Firstly make your wreath by gently bending the willow or hazel shoots into a circle.
2. Next weave in the pine leaves, pond pine, small pinecones left on their branch and holly leaves (plus any other leaves you have collected).
3. Now decorate your pinecones, acorns, conkers, dried thistle and anything else you have collected. Simply use gold or silver spray to decorate as you like. This step is optional however a little gold always looks festive.
4. Place your wreath around the slice of oak or pine. Pop the candle into the centre and arrange the pinecones, acorns, conkers and thistle around the candle.
5. Your table decoration is now complete!

To make your napkin rings you will need:

• Willow or hazel shoots
• Rosehip berries
• Pine leaves

To assemble:

1. Gently bend the willow or hazel shoots into a small circle, just large enough for a napkin.
2. Weave in the pine leaves and rosehip berries.

So there you have it. Claire Flower’s guide to homemade and sustainable Christmas table decorations. Making your own foraged decorations might seem like an impossible task, but it’s not as difficult as you might think! Have a go and let us know how you get on.