Garlandgirls at the University Botanic Gardens

We had a great afternoon in the Potting Shed at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, making long garlands for our fireplaces and staircases.  Here is a pic of my garlandgirls with their finished swags.  Thanks everyone for a great afternoon.   

University of Bristol Botanic Garden garlandgirls

Last night's swag workshop....

Here's a pic of all the garlandgirls from last nights swag workshop at Clifton High.  A good time was had by all....

Clifton High garlandgirls December 2013

What's coming out of the workshop....

Busy day yesterday but thought we would just post a few shots of some of the products coming out of the workshop.  Here is a nice swag in silver with blue.

fireplace swag winter white and blue

And here are a couple of Rose and Chrysanthemum Wreaths.  The pink one is currently on the door of garland HQ..... 


Rose and Chrysanthemum Wreath - Red



Rose and Chrysanthemum Wreath - Pink



Orange and Cinnamon Wreath

Cyber Monday is upon us and we are all busy in the workshop making up our first batch of orders for despatch later today.  The Orange and Cinnamon Wreath is again our best seller at this point in the season, as it was last year



Orange and Cinnamon Wreath

But these are early days... 

Christmas Wreath and Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project

We were at Bristol Zoo yesterday with the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project running our workshop on Creating Christmas Wreaths.  Mandy Leivers, the education officer, kindly hosted this event , and we spent a lovely day making some really beautiful Chrismas Wreaths and walking on the Downs learning about the history and folklore that surrounds the foliage we use at Christmas.   We have run this course many times here  and it was a great success with everyone taking home beautiful work.  It really was a good day. 

Here we are with our finished wreaths 

This is the fourth year that greengarland have worked with the Project and we are very proud to be associated with them. The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project is in its eleventhyear and is a collaboration funded  by Bristol City Council, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Natural England, University of Bristol, Society of Merchant Venturers, the Downs Committee and the Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation, and work in partnership with the National Trust (phew). Their work celebrates the outstanding wildlife interests of the Avon Gorge and Downs and works to secure its future.


Mandy has inspired almost a whole generation of children (including mine who are now in their teens) to appreciate and enjoy the diversity and uniqueness of the Downs.  My garden is full of insect hides and bird boxes that my boys have made on some of Mandy's courses when they were younger, and we have as a family spent many happy hours listening for birds, hugging trees, hunting for rare moths and identifying some of the unique species that grow there on the wide range of walks, talks and courses that they run all year round.

So many hanks to Mandy and the project for hosting us again.  It was a really great group to work with and the finished wreaths were all brilliant.  Until next time....