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<p>When <strong>festive wreaths</strong> start appearing on doors, you know Christmas is just around the corner. Whether you prefer a traditional wreath or something more unusual, there’s no shortage of ways to decorate your own wreath. We’ve put together some of our favourite ideas below.</p>

<p>When <strong>festive wreaths</strong> start appearing on doors, you know Christmas is just around the corner. Whether you prefer a traditional wreath or something more unusual, there’s no shortage of ways to decorate your own wreath. We’ve put together some of our favourite ideas below.</p>
<h2>Making a wreath: what you’ll need</h2>
<p>To make a wreath, you first need a wreath base. You can buy wireframes or plain polystyrene bases, as well as bases ready-wrapped with artificial foliage.</p>
<p>You will also need glue, florist wire and secateurs, plus the decorations of your choice.</p>
<h2>How to wrap a wreath base</h2>
<p>If you’re using fresh evergreen foliage to wrap your base, cut the foliage into lengths to suit the base – you may need to experiment a bit, but around 15-20cm (6-8in) usually works. Make the foliage into small bundles, and use the florist wire to attach each bundle to the wreath so that it lies flat, covering the base. Work your way around the base, overlapping the bundles until the base is completely covered.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>You can also wrap your base with string, material, coloured paper or anything else that inspires you.</p>
<h2>Ideas for decorating wreaths</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p>For a simple but very effective wreath, use a single type of evergreen foliage to cover your base, e.g. yew, and decorate it with a large red ribbon bow.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Dust pine-cones with fake snow or spray them silver or gold, and nestle them in amongst evergreen foliage, using florist’s wire to tie them to the base.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Wrap a base in wool and cover it with fluffy pompoms for a fabulously tactile wreath.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>For a spectacular look, use a polystyrene base and smother it with gleaming round Christmas baubles. Glue the baubles on, starting from the inside of the base and working out, using a mix of different-sized and coloured baubles.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Make a snowball wreath with Styrofoam balls in a range of sizes glued to a polystyrene base. For added sparkle, spray lightly with an aerosol adhesive and sprinkle with glitter.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>You can’t have too much of a good thing. Make a tiered wreath by linking two or three wreaths together in a chain using patterned ribbon or material and hang it on the wall or drape it the full length of your door.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Make a dried wreath tying bundles of twigs together for a base, then decorate with pine cones and dried flowers. Spray it snowy white or sparkling silver for frosty appeal.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Celebrate family and friends with a photo wreath. Wrap a polystyrene base in plain or coloured paper, then cover it with your favourite photos to make a memorable display.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Break with tradition and make a square wreath. Tie bundles of twigs to make a square frame, then decorate with ribbons at the corners and wrap it with fairy lights or tinsel.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>We have a fantastic range of wreaths and decorations in our centre. Let us help you brighten up your home this festive season.</p>

Top tips on decorating festive wreaths

<p>These tips of how to <strong>make this Christmas magical</strong> are to inspire you to make the most of the festive season, given what a hard year it has been for everyone around the world. Although 2020 may be a different kind of Christmas to what everyone is used to, it is still important to have some festive fun as much as possible and bring the Christmas spirit to your home, family and friends - even if that is via zoom! Here are our tips to help make some magic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These tips of how to <strong>make this Christmas magical</strong> are to inspire you to make the most of the festive season, given what a hard year it has been for everyone around the world. Although 2020 may be a different kind of Christmas to what everyone is used to, it is still important to have some festive fun as much as possible and bring the Christmas spirit to your home, family and friends - even if that is via zoom! Here are our tips to help make some magic.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Go big on sparkles to make this Christmas magical&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Even if decorating with a lot of sparkle and glitter isn’t usually your thing, why not try it this year? Go big with anything that shimmers from sequin clothes to multi-coloured tinsel, glitter spray your own natural decorations and make everything feel like a sparkly winter wonderland. It might seem over the top, but by Christmas day, those sparkles will make things feel all the more magical.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Make this Christmas magical with a Christmas film&nbsp;</h2>
<p>There is nothing like a festive film to put you in the mood for Christmas. Forget what’s going on in the world, put your feet up, get a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate and snuggle in to watch your favourite festive movie. Love Actually is great for the magic of Christmas, The Grinch that Stole Christmas is both fun and festive or why not watch or Miracle on 34th Street for some old fashioned music in the Christmas spirit.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Make this Christmas magical with handmade cards&nbsp;</h2>
<p>The magic of Christmas is all about giving, so why not start by getting creative and making your own Christmas cards. It doesn't matter if they are paper or cardboard, the recipient will be thrilled that you put the time and effort into making something special for them. Personalise each one, make each a little different and send your love to friends and family at a distance with the personal touch. Why not add some natural decorations, prints or drawings and get the kids involved as well.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Treat yourself to make this Christmas magical&nbsp;</h2>
<p>As you think about gifting others, don’t forget to look after yourself. Take some time for self-care and relaxation. Why not gift yourself with something that you’ve wanted for ages. A new houseplant? That perfect Poinsettia you’ve had your eye on, or the new Fir Tree for the garden. Christmas is for everyone, after all.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Make this Christmas special and visit Santa&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Santa is, of course, still at work this year, so if you have a list, make sure you send it in. Or even better still, visit him and tell him in person what you would love for Christmas!</p>
<p>Visit us in store to feel the magic of Christmas for sparkles to decorate your home with.&nbsp;</p>

Make this Christmas magical

<p>As the cold nights draw in, it’s time to <strong>get warm and cosy indoors</strong>. Create your own little haven with these essential winter accessories. At our garden centre in %locations%, you find all kind of interior accessories to make your home feel cosy and warm.</p>

<div>
<p>As the cold nights draw in, it’s time to <strong>get warm and cosy indoors</strong>. Create your own little haven with these essential winter accessories. At our garden centre in %locations%, you find all kind of interior accessories to make your home feel cosy and warm.</p>
<h2>7 items to make your home cosy this winter</h2>
<h3>1. Candles</h3>
<p>Nothing cheers up a dark winter evening like a few candles. Whether you choose them for their scent or simply for the comforting warm flicker of the flame, a few lit candles placed around a room make everything feel a bit better. Place tea lights in glass holders for a scatter of sparkling light or go for thick, sturdy pillar candles with minimalist appeal.</p>
<h3>2. Wax Melts</h3>
<p>Wax melts are a brilliant invention. They don’t evaporate, so there’s no need to worry about scorching the holder. Simply place a scented wax melt in a holder and use an unscented tea light to warm the wax to the melting point, then relax and enjoy several hours of fragrance. When you extinguish the tea light, the wax will solidify and can be re-used until the fragrance has all diffused out. Remove old wax before putting in a new melt.</p>
<h3>3. Essential oil reed diffusers</h3>
<p>If you’re after a product that will scent your home for weeks, a reed diffuser is what you need. Rattan reeds are placed in a container filled with essential oil so that they absorb the oil and gradually diffuse it out into the air. And they don’t just smell good – they make elegant ornaments too.</p>
<h3>4. Throws</h3>
<p>Give an old sofa a new look or add a touch of luxury with a few throws in soft, snuggly materials – just what you need on a cold winter’s evening. Cosy up under a throw with a cup of hot chocolate and binge-watch your favourite shows.</p>
<h3>5. Cushions</h3>
<p>On a budget and need to brighten up a room? Create your own personal style with a couple of well-chosen cushions. Add a splash of colour to a neutral colour scheme, or pick out a favourite ornament and choose your cushions to tone with it. For a vibrant effect, choose cushions in a complementary colour – lemon yellow looks stunning against dark blue, and acid green brings deep pink shades to life.</p>
<h3>6. Hand lotions and scented soaps</h3>
<p>After a hard day’s work, nothing feels better than soaking away the strains of the day in a hot bath with some delectably scented soap. And when you’ve been out in the garden, pamper your hands with a decadent dose of hand cream.</p>
<h3>7. Indoor plants</h3>
<p>The garden may be slowing down for winter, but you can still have your fill of greenery inside. Indoor plants like begonias, calatheas and crotons have gorgeously coloured foliage all year round. Add a note of seasonal colour with winter-flowering beauties like cyclamens and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), plus some ready-potted hyacinths to fill the house with fragrance.</p>
<p>We can all do with a bit of pampering in winter. Indulge yourself with a visit to our centre and choose something special for yourself and your family today.</p>
</div>

7 ways to make your home cosy this winter

<p>When the weather gets cold, <strong>birds</strong> need our help. Finding food gets harder, and they need to eat more to stay warm. Providing food and shelter in winter can make all the difference to your garden’s birds. Here are our top tips to <strong>help birds get through the winter</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When the weather gets cold, <strong>birds</strong> need our help. Finding food gets harder, and they need to eat more to stay warm. Providing food and shelter in winter can make all the difference to your garden’s birds. Here are our top tips to <strong>help birds get through the winter</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What to feed birds in winter</h2>
<p>Unlike us, birds don’t have to watch the calories over Christmas. What they need is plenty of oil-rich, high-calorie food to replenish the fat stores that they burn up quickly in cold weather. Sunflower and nyjer seeds are ideal, as are suet balls (remember to take suet balls out of their mesh bags to stop birds getting their feet tangled in the netting).&nbsp; Peanuts are always popular, but make sure to buy good quality unsalted peanuts suitable for birdfeed, as some peanuts contain a chemical that’s toxic to birds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Once you start feeding birds in winter, it’s important to stick to a routine and keep your feeders topped up. If birds know there’s food available, they’ll keep coming back, and you don’t want them to waste their valuable energy visiting an empty bird feeder.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Keep your birdbaths watered</h2>
<p>Keep birdbaths topped up too. Most birds need to drink twice a day, even in winter, and they also need to clean their feathers regularly to keep them waterproof. In icy weather, it can be hard for birds to find sources of clean water, so check your birdbath regularly to make sure it hasn’t frozen over. A handy tip is to leave a ping pong ball floating in the water. The ball will move about in even the lightest breeze, disturbing the water surface and keeping it from freezing in light frosts. On icy days, you may need to thaw your birdbath with warm water. (Don’t use boiling water, as this can crack stone birdbaths.)</p>
<h2>How to make your garden bird-friendly in winter</h2>
<p>To make your garden more bird-friendly, plant a few evergreen shrubs to provide shelter and protection for small birds in winter. Thorny evergreens like holly and pyracantha are ideal, as their berries provide a ready source of food. Mature ivy is another very bird-friendly plant, with berries for winter food and evergreen leaves for shelter.</p>
<h2>Feeding birds at Christmas</h2>
<p>Want to give your garden birds a treat at Christmas? Here’s what you can and can’t give them from your Christmas dinner table.&nbsp;</p>
<p><u>Do give:</u></p>
<ul>
<li>Small amounts of non-alcoholic fruit cake&nbsp;</li>
<li>Fruit</li>
<li>Unsalted nuts</li>
</ul>
<p><u>Don’t give:</u></p>
<ul>
<li>Any kind of cooking fat (it smears on birds’ feathers and is very hard for them to clean off)</li>
<li>Salty snacks, such as crisps</li>
</ul>
<p>Don’t put out too much food at any one time, as you don’t want to end up with a pile of soggy uneaten food that could attract rats or other pests.</p>
<p>Whatever you’re after, whether it’s bird treats or garden plants, we’ve got everything you need in our centre to help you care for your birds this winter.</p>