This traditional Christmas decoration is in short supply
Foraging your own Christmas wreath or garland this year? You may struggle to find red holly berries, says a new report.
Despite a "monster crop" of the traditional decoration in 2023, one holly farmer has revealed that most of this year's trees failed to produce berries.
Nick Collier, who supplies holly to New Covent Garden Market and Spitalfields Market, told the BBC: "I'm still cutting some holly, people are still making a lot of wreaths, but they can't decorate the house with the red berries, which is an ancient tradition."
And those running festive wreath-making classes have had to pivot.
"We're using a hypericum berry, external, which we're wiring into the leaves to sit alongside the holly," says Hannah Deane, who runs several Christmas wreath-making classes. "Or you can buy little red berries on wires, it's... not the same as proper berries, but it gives you that Christmas feel."
Berries haven't reappeared because the trees are "feeling weak and don't want to have another baby straight away," author and garden expert, Bob Flowerdew, said. "The same thing happens with apples, one year you get a fantastic crop, the tree gets exhausted, it just takes a year off."
But unlike apples, whose numbers can be increased by thinning the crop to get fewer but bigger fruit, unfortunately, you can't do this with holly berries "as there are too many of them."
Let's hope the British countryside staple returns soon. If you're still looking to adorn your home with holly and berry foliage, take a look at our favourite decorations below:
OKUYAN 2PCS Christmas Garland
Red Christmas Berry Star Wreath
LouisaYork Christmas Napkin Rings Set of 6
12PCS Christmas Berries Decorations
Berries And Baubles Pre Lit Swag
£33.60 at notonthehighstreet.com
Holly and Red Berry Christmas Wreath
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