How to Make an Eco-Friendly Festive Wreath

Introducing Emma:

We've teamed up with Emma from Wilde Green to show you how to created a beautiful eco wreath - perfect for any Christmas door. Emma started out as a freelance gardener in London, escaping desk-bound corporate life. After working for award-winning designer Gabrielle Gardens, studying RHS Level 2 in Horticulture at Capel Manor College, and a year working for the Garden Team at Chelsea Physic Garden, she left for the wilder, greener lands of Somerset.

Wilde Green was set up in 2019 to provide quality and bespoke gardening services and in 2020, she launched her floristry service, offering artisan bouquets and locally sourced gifts, bespoke arrangements and designs for events and weddings.

Emma has created a beautifully festive eco wreath which uses no plastic or wire, just fully sustainable, natural materials. This means, once the festive season is over you can dispose of your entire wreath in your compost. 

How to Make Your Festive Wreath in 5 Simple Steps:

Step 1: Prepare foliage by cutting stems into approx. 20cm lengths, being careful not to waste any foliage. One Ruscus stem, for example, can be cut into 3-4 usable pieces. 

Step 2: Tie the loose end of the twine reel securely to the grapevine base. Lay a fan-shaped bundle of foliage onto the grapevine and wrap the twine around tightly a couple of times, using the reel to pull it towards you. 

Step 3: Add more bundles in the same direction, overlapping with the previous one, using the same piece of twine to secure as you go, until you have covered the whole base. You can then tie the twine in a knot and cut off from the reel. 

Step 4: Use twine or bamboo skewers to attach decorations at random intervals around the wreath. Twine is good for tying on larger items, such as pinecones or cinnamon sticks. Dried & fresh flowers, fruit slices & chillies are best attached using the skewers. Flowers with studier stems can simply be woven in. 

Step 5: Attach a ribbon by doubling it around your wreath underneath the foliage, leaving it long enough to attach to your door. It’s a good idea to hold up the wreath and look at the shape before you decide where to attach the ribbon. 

After Christmas, remember to remove the ribbon before composting.