Beautiful Christmas wreaths, handmade by my Mum!
It’s been a while now since I picked up the Over Farm reins and gave my mum and dad a chance to relax a little more – but Sue wasn’t giving up her favourite task of the year, not for anyone!
My lovely mum has been devotedly crafting Christmas wreaths for Gloucesterites for more than 20 years, and she’s showing no signs of stopping yet.
Saving trees from the burner
It all started a couple of decades back when Dad went to burn some of the smaller firs that weren’t fit for selling in the Roundhouse to heat the house.
Too small, too ugly, not enough needles – the rejects with growing problems that wouldn’t sell and were taking up precious space.
But my mum Sue’s always been one to back the underdog and she was having NONE of the burning solution, so she came up with a bright idea to fulfil the destiny of these hamstrung trees and save them from immediate obliteration.
Wreaths
How Sue makes the wreaths
By cutting the foliage away from the trees, Sue’s got everything she needs to make spectacular and extraordinarily full-looking Christmas wreaths.
She painstakingly selects the bushiest bits from those poor unwanted trees, then heads to a cosy nook in the Over Farm offices and sticks the radio on. (You really know Christmas is coming when those piney aromas start permeating the office!)
There, Sue grabs a wire frame and uses a machine to carefully press the tangs of the frame together to hold on the foliage. Only when she’s satisfied that the frame is entirely invisible and furnished with a handsome mane of thick fir does she move onto the decoration.
Throughout the year (way before the run-up to Christmas), Sue keeps her eyes open for the best ribbons and bows, storing up a stately stock of elegant and stylish decorations to add to her wreaths.
In more recent years she’s even branched into fairy lights!
Sizes, shapes and bespoke wreaths
Now Sue knows not everyone’s door is the same size and sometimes less is more, so she makes a wide range of wreaths, from 8 to 14 inches in diameter.
These days you can even get one in the shape of a Christmas tree! (Think I’ll be going for one of those this year, it’s nice to do something different every now and then.)
I’d call the decorations sophisticated and classic, a bit like Sue herself. But if you fancy something a little more out there, or you’ve got a particular look in mind, Sue’s all ears.
She loves a challenge and our customers’ individual requests have led to some of the most beautiful bespoke wreaths over the years.
If you’d like Sue to make you a bespoke wreath, give the tree line a buzz on 01452 341510 and we’ll relay what you’re after – she’ll get back to you with a price and let you know when you can expect your wreath to be ready at the farm.
Why buy a Gloucester wreath from Sue this Christmas?
If you’re after a showstopper wreath for your front door this year, look no further than Sue’s selection.
Come along to the Roundhouse at the farm and you’ll see a massive display of Sue’s wares, as well as endless Christmas trees, grown for your home at ours.
Sue’s wreaths will be available in the Roundhouse from the 30th November in 2024. You’ll find us a mile outside Gloucester city centre, just off the A40 at GL2 8DB. Duck off at Over Farm Market, follow the Christmas tree signs and you’re in the right place.
We’re open 11am – 5pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am – 5pm at weekends too.
Save a sad little tree this Christmas. Buy a wreath from Sue.