Winter wreath workshop

Our winter wreath workshop on 6 December 2025, as part of our Rhythms of Nature series, was a great success!

Using foraged foliage from Gipton Wood, families made some beautiful wreaths to hang from their doors, while enjoying seasonal refreshments including winter spiced hot chocolate, festive music and a campfire to keep us warm and to toast marshmallows!

Our LCC Ranger Louise joined us and brought locally cut willow to form the wreath bases. She taught us how to warm, bend and weave the willow, and then we decorated the bases with holly, laurel and dogwood – which had been cut from around the Wood in our Volunteer session running the same morning – and other natural decorations.

Children practised their Forest School knots and wrapped smaller decorations with wool to take home and adorn their homes through the winter months.

It was a lovely community event with many families and local residents joining us and thankfully the weather stayed dry and bright. Roll on Spring! 

Similar Posts

  • Bluebell walk

    On a beautiful spring day a group of 24 people had an interesting walk around Gipton Wood looking at the beautiful carpet of bluebells guided by naturalist Steve Joul. He explained the complexities of hybridisation in the bluebells between native and Spanish bluebells and the presence of albino bluebells. Wild garlic was also in flower…

  • Summer Party 2025

    Our 25th Anniversary was celebrated in style at the annual Gipton Wood Summer Fayre on June 7th. This include a nature trail, treasure hunt and, woodland crafts with delicious home made cakes , roasted marshmallows over a fire pit and hotdogs. A lovely community event enjoyed by over 150 people.

  • Ecology Survey

    Brooks Ecological have completed an Ecology Survey of Gipton Wood finding that the Wood is in excellent condition, thanks, in part, to the work of the Friends. A huge thank you to Roundhay Environmental Action Project (REAP) and Morley Glass for funding this survey. This survey wasn’t to tell us about what we have in…

  • SEPTEMBER FUN

    On Saturday 6th September, the Friends of Gipton Wood hosted a community event with a lively Forest School and a bring and share stall with produce from our gardens and kitchens. Over 60 local residents came and enjoyed the day. The Forest School, led by Dora, Laura and Christine explored the themes of Fire, Water…

  • Gipton Wood 2050 headline results

    Thank you to everyone who completed our consultation survey and provided feedback on proposals for Gipton Wood. We’re thrilled that 92% of respondents supported all or most of the proposals. We’re now working through the feedback to look at where we can improve the proposals, or where we may need to change or adjust them….

  • April 2026 dead hedge creation

    On Saturday 4th April, a merry band of volunteers shook off the Easter chocolates and embraced the season by continuing our long‑term project to create a ‘dead hedge’ along the Copgrove Road boundary of the wood. This is beginning to provide a natural way to deter motor vehicles from entering the site, and we think…