On the 30th November I had the greatest pleasure hosting our final workshop of the year, ‘Forage & Form’. This workshop focused on sustainability around the Christmas season - starting with guiding our attendees on a mindful forage walk within our local valley, collecting materials to incorporate into their hand-made wreaths using our free-forming technique.
In the days leading up to the workshop I harvested foliages from around Honour Farm, collecting a mix of eucalyptus, conifer, holly, creeping ivy and juniper which I presented our guests in generous gift bags. Copper rings were prepped from the potting yard with cultivated moss to use as our wreath bases.
We also supplied additional greens and a huge basket of dried material it’d grown and saved throughout the year, which included plenty of grasses, teasels, statice, haver oats and more.
Despite the wild weather extremes from the storm the weekend prior, on the day we were graced with sunshine and a clear sky! A relief and perfect for our forage walk. We strolled down into the heart of the valley, by water and bare trees, taking in the sights and sounds which surrounded us. Mindfully collecting natural architectural forms for our creations and gently meandering our way back up hill.
Our workshops have another focus at the heart of them, community. Which is why I always go to the effort of providing a homemade meal upon a beautifully laid table, giving us an opportunity to connect. We ate a warming squash soup with freshly baked breads and a selection of cheeses. Refreshments were available throughout the afternoon, including a glass or two of Prosecco for those inclined.
Nourishing ourselves before an afternoon of creativity.
Once our bellies were full we moved to the other side of the hall where individual tables were ready for crafting our festive formations.
In detail I talked through the HFF method of wreath making, assisting where needed and offering insider tips to creating bespoke naturalistic designs.
During the session I went around the group asking each attendee to share a proud moment or accomplishment from the year and together we celebrated our achievements!
Each student interpreting the method in their own way, making each wreath entirely unique. The outcome of the session was fantastic with some beautiful designs heading out the door!
A huge thank you to Rachel for being my right hand woman on the day and to Kathryn for capturing these beautiful moments.
Finally, i’ll take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! It’s been an incredible year for us and that wouldn’t have been possible without all the amazing people we’ve worked with and opportunities that have come our way.
2025 is set to be another year of flowering magic at home and on site across the North.
Thank you for your continued support on our journey here at HF.
Hattie x