GARDEN waste from Middleton Hall’s grounds has been put to festive use by eco-minded staff, residents and their families.

A wide range of sustainably gathered plant material from the hall’s 40 acres of gardens and woodland was used to create more than 20 Christmas wreaths.

Families and residents from across Middleton Hall Retirement Village made the traditional decorations at a seasonal wreath-making craft session led by the hall’s grounds staff.

The wreaths will now add a festive feel to doorways and corridors as Christmas celebrations take hold.

Head gardener, Thom Robinson, said: “We all had great fun. We always love getting people across the village together and it is extra special when it’s at Christmas.”

The Northern Echo:

The wreath-making workshop was carefully tailored so that it was accessible for anybody who wanted to take part.

Mr Robinson added: “It was designed to be inclusive so everybody was able to feel the sense of satisfaction that comes from making something.

“Over 90 per cent of the materials used were from the grounds including leylandii, holly, laurel and blackthorn and sloe cuttings.

"We’ve had a glut of cones and the holly has nice, lush, red berries this year so the wreaths looked stunning.

"The wreath structures we used were stored from last year’s session so the event was also totally waste-free, which perfectly reflects Middleton Hall’s environmental ethos.”