MAKE a winter walk work for the festive season with natural decorations from woodland, your garden and even the side of the road.
Today I will be taking my Belfast Dynamo walkers along Minnowburn near the Giant's Ring in Belfast for a pre-Christmas walk, but we will collect lots of lovely seasonal colour and foliage on the way.
There's no end to the delights you can literally pick up off the ground on a winter walk in nature – from pine cones scattered about the woodland floor, to berries and evergreen spruce branches that give out a lovely smell in the home. In past years I have picked up all types of decorations for the home from the great outdoors, including a big bouquet of red, green, brown and yellow-coloured booty that I simply placed in a vase on the table.
The humble dogwood comes into its Christmas own in winter and its big, bright red sturdy branches form the perfect spine for supporing other foliage like pine cones and more flimsy berry trees.
Last year I took things up a gear and made my own natural Christmas wreath, pictured, of which I was extremely proud.
Craft shops such as Craftworld in Queen's Street, Belfast, sell circular wreath bases for about £2. They also sell metal ties – or otherwise use fuse wire to secure your wreath.
Garden clippings can be put to good use and make the best of your winter herb pots – rosemary, thyme and the remains of your lavender will add extra aroma to your homemade wreath.
I made mine with holly last year but found it quite difficult to manipulate the spikes around the base of the metal wreath. This year I'll be using the clippings of my real Christmas tree. The smell of the pine is divine. Wild rosehip, rowan or hawthorn berries are great for adding to your wreath or bouquet for the all-important red.
Just a reminder that wild holly is not as common as it used to be, so go easy on the trees with the berries, which is the female of the species.
Enjoy your Christmas wreath foraging.
