Make a natural Christmas wreath

Christmas wreath on a door at Scotney Castle, Kent | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Discover how to create a homemade Christmas wreath to bring nature into your home this festive season. It’s the ideal project for a bit of quiet time away from all the hustle and bustle, or you can get the whole family involved for some quality time together.

What you'll need

Wreath base
Secateurs
Wire cutters or heavy-duty scissors
Florist wire
Moss – ask your local florist for sustainably harvested moss or search online
Lots of greenery – try conifers, ivy, eucalyptus, bay and rosemary
Decorations – pine cones, cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, berry sprigs, seed heads etc.

Video

Getting started

Watch the tutorial video and follow the instructions below to make your own natural Christmas wreath.

Method

Prepare your wreath base: You can buy a ready-made wreath base made of wire or rattan, weave one out of willow or vines, or use any other recyclable materials you have at home to make a sturdy hoop. Decide which part of your wreath base is going to be the top, and thread a loop of florist wire through so you can hang it on your door.
Add moss to the base: Add handfuls of moss to your wreath base and secure it in place with florist wire. The moss will help to keep the greenery fresh and provides a base to attach all your natural decorations to.
Attach a mini bouquet of greenery: Take three or four different types of greenery and create a small fan shape, like a mini bouquet. Using the same technique as before, attach the mini bunch of greenery to the wreath base by wrapping the florist wire around it a few times – don’t cut the wire.
Build up your wreath: Create another mini bouquet and repeat the process in step 3. You can create the same style of bunch each time for a more uniform look or mix it up with different types of greenery. Make sure you overlap each bunch to cover the wreath base.
Add decorations: Time to add the decorations. Attach larger items like pine cones or cinnamon sticks by wrapping florist wire around them and securing to the wreath base as before. If you’re using more delicate hedgerow greenery such as rose hips or old man’s beard (wild clematis), you can just poke it into the base.
Display your finished wreath: Add a ribbon as a finishing touch and your wreath is ready to display.

We’d love to see your sustainable and natural Christmas decoration creations. Share them with us on social media @NationalTrust on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Mother and daughter making orange pomander Christmas decorations at Attingham Park, Shropshire

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