How to make a foraged Christmas wreath

What style Christmas wreath will you be choosing for your front door this year? With so many to choose from, it can be a little daunting but I find myself with the foragers on this one …

What is a foraged wreath?

This is a wreath, bunch or garland which is put together with ‘found’ foliage (from gardens and hedgerows) and is then mixed with any combination of decorations, fir cones, feathers, fruits and flowers.

Here are three foraged wreath ideas from the Berkshire and Oxfordshire countryside, including a simple step-by-step guide for one I made for our front door last year:

1. Foraged wreath

Edwina Sercombe is an Oxfordshire-based events organiser who specialises in foraged Christmas wreaths and flower arrangements such as this wonderful pheasant feathered wreath. Edwina also runs courses and can be contacted at Eddiesercombe@googlemail.com. This was one of Edwina’s luxury wreaths at the recent Cuxham Christmas Market in Oxfordshire.

2. Asymmetrical foraged wreath

I love the simplicity and contrast of the soft foliage with the twig wreath.

Lois Kirsten made this asymmetric wreath, which is hanging on the barn door to her Little Christmas Fair (gifts with textiles by Rebecca Engels) in Beenham, Berkshire (next opens Friday 7th and Saturday 8th December, 10 am – 4 pm, The Barn at Lark Rise, Lambdens Hill, Beenham, Reading, Berks RG7 5LG). Tea, coffee and homemade cakes served all day. You can see a selection of gifts for sale in the barn in next week’s Christmas Gift Guide on the blog.

Christmas wreath at The Little Christmas Fair 2018 on Charis White Interiors blog on wreaths — Photo: Charis White

3. Foraged Christmas bunch – step-by-step guide

I chop a branch or two off the back of our Christmas tree to form the basis for our Christmas ‘bunch’ – or ‘compost’ as Angus our son so delightfully describes it! I then add in whatever is available from the garden or any natural treasures found when I am out and about on walks.

Gather whatever you can find from holly, to ivy and any other evergreens, or dried flowers and twigs that you can get your hands on. Photo: Charis White

Materials required for Foraged Christmas bunch on Charis White Interiors blog — **Step 1:** Materials required for a foraged Christmas bunch styled by Charis White

20171215_145844 — **Step 2:** Tie together the back layer of foliage with string. Photo: Charis White

20171215_145401 — **Step 3:** I tied a few star anise on to branches of Christmas Tree fir to add additional fragrance to the Christmas bunch. Photo: Charis White

20171215_150008 — **Step 4:** I found these super large fir cones under a large Scotch pine whilst dog walking Panda in our local neighbourhood. Once dried, they literally last for years. Tie the tops with lengths of ribbon. Photo: Charis White

**Step 5:** Layer 4 – 8 large fircones tied with ribbon on top of the back layer of foliage. Photo: Charis White

20171215_151003 — **Step 6:** Arrange the ribbon so that it fans out a little. Photo: Charis White

20171215_151010 — **Step 7:** Tie the ribboned fir cones to the back layer of foliage. Photo: Charis White

20171215_151506 — **Step 8:** Choose a wide ribbon and tie a bow to cover the stems tied with string. Photo: Charis White

20171215_152230 — **Step 9:** Finally, attach the wreath or bunch to your door with some garden wire to either a simple cup hook or knocker. Photo: Charis White. If you would like me to make you a bespoke bunch or wreath, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

Thank you

Thank you so much for reading, I hope this has given you some inspiration and that you might be able to get your hands on a bit of foraged foliage too. Keep your eyes peeled for next weekend, because back by popular demand is the blog’s Christmas Gift Guide 2018!

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With many thanks, Charis x

RHS — Charis White, interior stylist/writer

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