It's thought that the tradition of decorating doors with wreaths to welcome guests at Christmas could date all the way back to the Romans. At new year, they would exchange token gifts including wreaths. And, of course, it was tradition to present wreaths in recognition of military success.

Putting wreaths - or welcome rings as they were known - on doors became popular in the 19th century and were made out of holly and ivy and decorated with pine cones and ribbons.

Holly at How Hill. (Image: Contributed by Dairy Barns)

Wreath-making is a Christmas tradition which Hannah Deane of Dairy Barns in Hickling loves. This month her Flower Room will be a hive of activity as she helps crafters to create beautiful nature-inspired decorations for their homes.

Hannah grew up surrounded by flowers and loved flower design from a young age thanks to her mum, Jill, a flower arranger who has been teaching and demonstrating for more than 40 years and whose claim to fame is her silver gilt medal for flower design with the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) at the Chelsea Flower Show.

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