How to make Wreaths using a birch base
Homemade birch twig hoops make a great base for wreaths – birch stems are strong and supple, and it’s easy to insert decorative material in the gaps. They can easily be found, just be sure to ask the land owners’ permission and only take what you need. Alternatively, source from a florist.
Borrowing from the beauty of the winter hedgerow is a tradition going back millennia, so look at what nature has provided – the hard work has been done for you. Arrange your plunder to create a full and luxurious effect – the more the merrier!
1 Lay two or three 80cm birch twigs lengthways and twist them around each other. Add more twigs, avoiding the very whippy growth towards the ends.
2 Once you have the right length and thickness for your wreath, tie the birch twigs into a circle with wire. This will form the base of your wreath.
3 Attach a hoop of wire or string for hanging the wreath. This is best done now, because it’s harder to do when you’ve completed the wreath.
4 Arrange your foliage base layer, building it up thickly by sticking it into the twigs. You might need to secure the foliage with floristry wire or string.
5 Embellish with decorative material such as sprays of berries or cones, either pushing them into the twigs or securing with wire where necessary.
Feed the birds
Hang this wreath in the garden to provide a snack for visiting birds. We covered a birch twig hoop with ivy, then added pyracantha and hawthorn berries, plus crab apples attached with a twist of wire pierced through their middle. Hang your wreath where you can see it and watch for hungry birds attracted by the bright fruits.
We used
• Crab apples• Ivy• Hawthorn• Mistletoe• Pyracantha
Razzle dazzle
Gathering twigs and sprigs from hedgerows for your wreath can become a Christmas tradition, and it’s
