To make sure your Christmas is on poinsettia we chat to some Garden of England green thumbs about creating floral decorations beyond be-leaf
Simply Stunning
Essentially Hops & Flowers, Chalkpit Farm in Bekesbourne
Favourite Festive Foliage: Seasonal and locally sourced evergreen foliage, as well as preserved and dried material. Variety is key.
Top tip for glowing Christmas floral arrangements: You only need green thumbs for growing plants and flowers, not for arranging a glorious seasonal bouquet.
Essentially Hops & Flowers is one of Kent’s premier growers and suppliers of traditional hops, grasses and country-dried flowers. The farm and business are owned by Amanda and Mike Barker. Amanda’s grandfather started at the farm in 1954, followed by her dad, who decided it was no longer economical to focus solely on growing hops for brewing. Amanda and Mike saw an opportunity to sell decorative hops, which was a great success and introduction to the decorative flower market, and hence Essentially Hops was born.
Since then, the business has blossomed, and their flowers are available to buy in shops like M&S and The White Company and have been used to supply TV production companies. You may have spotted their arrangements on shows including ITV’s Primeval and Channel 4’s Kirstie and Phil’s Perfect Christmas.
The team also hosts fun, crafty workshops so individuals and their friends can learn floristry skills from a professional while catching up. It’s ideal for those interested in floral design and can make the perfect gift for flower fanatics. Why not try their Make Your Own Christmas Door Wreath workshop this festive season? It will help you get into the festive spirit, and you can take your wreath home to hang proudly on your door or give it as a gift to a loved one.
‘Workshops are a great place to try your hand at creating festive decoration, or if you haven’t the time to spare, choose your florist well,’ says team member Sasha. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and all florists are professionals, so don’t expect to become one overnight. Just have fun being creative and learning a few tricks of the trade as you follow some expert guidance.
‘To create amazing festive displays, use locally sourced materials, add a little glitz and glamour if you wish, and remember simple is often best. It’s also a great idea to use lights in your designs, for an extra-special touch.’
Essentially Hops’ Christmas wreath workshops take place at their charming, dried flower shop located in the picturesque Kent countryside. Using natural foliage, scented pines and accessories you’ll learn how to craft a gorgeous Christmas wreath, with guidance from expert florists who will supply all necessary materials, and you can even bring your own decorations to add for a personal touch.
‘Our workshops are fun, informal and a great chance to chat with friends, take some time out for yourself and meet other like-minded individuals. Bespoke options for the workshops are also available and we offer a variety of classes and tours. They can also be a great idea for hen parties, baby showers and pre-Christmas hangouts with work colleagues and friends,’ adds Sasha. essentiallyhops.co.uk
A Cut Above The Rest
Castle Farm, Sevenoaks
Favourite Festive Foliage: Fresh eucalyptus. The grey leaves contrast beautifully with glistening red berries or dark evergreens.
Top tip for glowing Christmas floral arrangements: Start planning your Christmas displays early enough to collect dried seedheads, Chinese lanterns or hydrangeas before they discolour with the winter weather.
Every year Castle Farm runs Christmas wreath workshops where all the beautiful foliage used is grown on the farm or locally sourced. The team provide the equipment needed including the ring, green moss, seasonal foliage, beautiful coloured ribbon, and festive accessories such as cinnamon sticks, dried fruit and berries to make your wreath glow. The workshops are perfect for beginners as guests will receive expert step-by-step guidance throughout. Places can be booked online, and the workshops will be held on November 29 and 30 and December 1.
When it comes to other festive foliage, Lorna Roberts admits one of the Alexander Family Christmas favourites is fresh eucalyptus. Together the family have been farming in the Darenth Valley since 1892 when James Alexander brought down 17 milking cows on the train from Ayrshire in Scotland. Throughout the years they’ve grown many crops on the land, though lavender is one of their most popular. Today they’re the largest Lavender farm in the UK.
‘When it comes to Christmas at home however, we love bringing fresh eucalyptus indoors as the scent is so evocative of the winter season and it lasts for ages. It also remains looking good when dried, so it’s great value for money,’ Lorna explains.
‘I’d also recommend being bold when creating your Christmas door wreath. It’s lovely to have them on display from early in the festive season and if well-made with the right foliage they can last three to four weeks.
‘Think about the colour of your door and make sure the wreath and ribbons stand out in contrast. Some sturdy foliage, like holly or bay, can last indoors for ages but be careful when using ivy or softer stems as the leaves can go limp and look a bit sad!’
Even if floral displays aren’t your strongest suit, don’t let that get in the way when you start decorating. It can be a lot of fun to head out into the garden and see what materials are naturally available and let your imagination run free.
‘You can create a stunning festive table display pretty easily,’ Lorna says. ‘One of the simplest methods is to lay a few branches of evergreen foliage down the centre of the table and intersperse them with tall red candles, scented tealights in glass votives or a trail of little twinkling fairy lights. Rosemary, bay and pinecones are useful additions from the garden, as well as small branches of crab apples if the birds haven’t eaten them already!’ castlefarmkent.co.uk
Sprucing It Up
The Cove, Tunbridge Wells
Favourite Festive Foliage: Blue spruce which has a beautiful silvery-blue colour to it and lasts for weeks and weeks.
Top tip for glowing Christmas floral arrangements: Use a range of greenery to provide interest to the arrangement through a subtle variety of colours and textures.
‘I think when it comes to putting together festive displays one of the most important things to remember is to not be afraid of adding your own decorations like baubles and ribbons to add a little sparkle to the arrangement,’ says The Cove founding partner and award-winning florist Amy Lethbridge. ‘We’re all individuals and expressing that can add to the personal enjoyment of decorating.
‘As well as blue spruce, I love using eucalyptus in displays as it makes your home smell lovely and it’s a great multipurpose foliage as you can use it fresh or dry. You also shouldn’t fear incorporating items that are personal to you or hold sentimental value. It’s just another way to personalise your decorations and add an extra special touch.’
Based on Royal Tunbridge Wells high street, The Cove specialises in creating stunning bespoke bouquets perfect for all occasions and crafted specifically to suit each client’s taste, space and budget. They were voted Best Florist in Kent 2023 by Muddy Stilettos. Since opening in 2020 they’ve offered floral workshops which provide an ideal opportunity to discover a new passion or skill and chance to catch up with loved ones. Their Christmas workshops have proved incredibly popular, with more and more customers attending year on year.
‘We’re offering festive workshops this year starting in mid-November and running through to mid-December,’ Amy says. ‘We offer a variety of different sessions ranging from festive hand-ties to wreath making and table centrepiece displays. You’ll find a workshop for everything you could need to make your home as festive as possible, whilst learning a new creative skill.
‘It doesn’t matter if you haven’t tried floristry before or if you don’t think that you’re creative or aren’t a plant expert. That shouldn’t stop you from giving it a try. I often find when you’re working with flowers or foliage that you love, your creativity will start to flow.
‘The nice thing about working with natural materials is that every time you craft with them the arrangement will turn out different. They all look beautiful but, in each instance, they’ll be unique. That’s quite special.
‘If you’re unsure and have never tried to make a wreath before or a table display, keep it simple and only use one or two different types of foliage. Add in a sprinkling of your personality and it will look gorgeous.’ thecove.shop
We are hosting a very special wreath workshop with Bloom and Burn and at Water Lane, co-hosted by Kent Life magazine editor, Katy Pearson on December 4, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Enjoy creating your own Christmas wreath in time for the festive season. Using dried flowers, seedheads and other fresh and foraged materials harvested from around the Water Lane garden, you'll create a stunning, naturalistic wreath under the careful guidance of Bloom and Burn, perfectly complemented with a luxury velvet ribbon. Graeme Corbett, floral stylist and teacher, will guide you through the process and help you create your own unique design from the cornucopia of materials made available to you.
Tickets are £85 per person and include a festive drink and a mince pie to round off your session, a Kent Life goodie bag, plus 10 per cent off in Water Lane’s shop on the day.
waterlane.net/pages/kent-life
READ MORE: What are the best Christmas wreaths and garlands to buy?
