Wreath-making

Ampleforth Abbey is hosting a wreath-making workshop over the weekend of Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, with sessions running from 10:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 3:30pm on both days. It's held at Alban Roe House, which sits within the abbey grounds.

The session is a guided workshop where you make your own personalised Christmas wreath using natural materials, with an expert on hand to walk you through it. All the materials you'll need are provided, so you just turn up and get stuck in. It's the kind of thing that works as well as a solo project as it does with a friend, and you leave with something you've actually made yourself rather than something bought off a shelf.

There's a bit more to it than just the crafting, too. The workshop includes mulled cider, mince pies, and festive nibbles, so you can snack your way through the morning or afternoon. It's a slow, social way to spend a few hours, and since it's set in the abbey grounds, it feels like a proper start to the season rather than a rushed errand.

For context, Alban Roe House is part of Ampleforth Abbey, which is home to the largest Benedictine community of monks in the UK and set across acres of scenic landscape. It's a quiet, atmospheric spot to spend a weekend morning or afternoon, and the workshop fits right into that. Each session runs for two hours, and with slots on both Saturday and Sunday, you can pick the one that suits you best. Tickets are £45.00, and you'll come away with your own wreath and a few festive treats to go with it.