The plants they chose were striking, red dogwood, black willow, silver and weeping birch. I can spot a silver birch, at least, so I’ll be gathering some more from the garden to play with.

Bek showed us how to bend the pliable wands into circles and weave more in at quarter turns, starting each new end pointing through the middle to the back. For the knitters, as if to knit. Later those longer hard ends of willow and dogwood were clipped cleanly off, leaving the birch a bit wild. Amazing how it works when you do it properly, with good materials. I love the branches just as they are, as a candle surround intended for a table, or as a wreath.

But there were cones and crab apples, which I couldn’t resist. I learned to conjure with floral wire, wrapping it round the center of the cone, near the base, or poking and hooking it down through the apple, threading through to the back of the wreath and twisting to secure. Brilliant!

I’m ever so pleased with it. I’d like to make another with greenery for the front door, and perhaps a tiny, silver birch circle for the gate. Exciting! The class was so friendly, it’s very sweet to meet more people from the surrounding villages. Be sure to see what Blooming Green gets up to; their local, ecological approach to floristry is something I deeply admire. (Come spring they’ll have more flowery pick-your-own days, involving cake, in Kent. Like berrying at a local farm, how delightful!) I’m a little bit more ready for the holidays now.

Many thanks to Plumpton College, Centre for Sustainable Food, Farming and Forestry, and the Weald Forest Ridge Partnership for providing the funding for the floristry course. It was brilliant.

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