Shearsby Florist wins competition to make wreath for 10 Downing Street for the Third Time

Friezeland Farm / Flowers by Stephanie has won the Christmas wreath competition for the third time.

We’ve done it again! We’re on Number 10 for the hat trick Christmas Wreath, (supply, making and presentation).
Stephanie and co went down to Downing Street to present the Xmas Wreath on the 25th November, with the Light Switch on, on the 30th. “It was the first time I’ve been able to go to the light switch on and a very special moment for me and my family.” Says Stephanie.

A family-run Market Bosworth Christmas tree farm (Friezeland Farm) is celebrating after winning the chance to make a festive wreath for 10 Downing Street. Friezeland Farm – which lays claim to being the largest pick-your-own festive tree farm in the UK – picked up the ‘Champion Festive Wreath of the Year’ prize at the British Christmas Tree Growers Association Awards 2023 (Our Stephanie created the winning Wreath for the comp…).

The winning wreath by Stephanie was made using foliage from the farm, and finished with decorations including baubles, faux fruit, cinnamon sticks and pine cones.

Director Toby Ryley said those triumphant in the awards were unable to win again the following year. So, over the past six years, Friezeland Farm (Flowers by Stephanie) has won all three times it has been eligible to enter.

On the previous two occasions, Friezeland / Stephanie created wreaths when Boris Johnson was Prime Minister. This year, it will be the turn of Rishi Sunak to have a Friezeland Farm / FBS creation adorning his famous front door.

The wreath, which beat around 40 other entries, was created by wreath-maker Stephanie Stanley, who owns and runs Flowers by Stephanie. Stephanie makes all of the wreaths that are sold at Friezeland Farm, making use of foliage grown on-site.

As well as claiming the Champion Festive Wreath of the Year title, Friezeland Farm won the ‘Best Natural Wreath’ and ‘Best Decorated Wreath’ awards. On being awarded the Champion Festive Wreath of the Year accolade again this year, Toby told LeicestershireLive: “It’s fantastic to win this award three times on the trot.

“The experience of supplying Number 10 is fantastic – driving down to deliver the wreath, driving up to Number 10, is amazing. Then we go down for the light switch-on and meet the Prime Minister, and then next year we get a tour of Number 10, which is incredible.

“We’re very honoured to have won for the third time, but this would have not been possible without the amazing expertise of our wreath maker, Stephanie Stanley.” (Accolades and mentions above).

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association annual awards have been running since 1999. Other winners this year included Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm in Devon, which will provide the Christmas tree for 10 Downing Street after being crowned Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year 2023.

The winning tree and wreath were chosen by members of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association who attended the competition day held at Billingley Christmas Trees, Barnsley, South Yorkshire (Pictured).

ORIGINAL LEICESTER MERCURY ARTICLE HERE

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Stephanie was asked by The Daily Mail / Express to answer some questions about the Wreath competition and being a professional Christmas Wreath Maker. Here’s what she put :: The “job” side of making Christmas Wreaths Q&A

Your Name, age, hometown and job title…

Stephanie Stanley
37
Market Bosworth, Leicestershire
Florist / Owner / Workshop Trainer at Flowers by Stephanie

How long have you been making Christmas Wreaths Stephanie?

30 years, I’ve been doing Christmas Wreaths since I was 7. I opened my first florist’s shop in 2005 at the age of 19 in Leicestershire, but have been arranging flowers and entering competitions since I was a child. This is the 3rd year that we’ve entered and won the BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association) competition.

What does the job involve on a day to day basis?

Day to day I’m mainly working in my Studio, meeting with clients for their next big event / wedding, planning & conditioning flowers, dealing with suppliers / ordering flowers, accepting deliveries of flowers, readying wedding flowers, preparing for workshops and creating funeral arrangements for clients. Seasonally November is wreath season and I work with materials from my local Friezland Christmas Tree Farm.

Do you work on your own?

Primarily yes I do but I’ve got support around me as my business has grown. I’ve got a lady who does my website, social media posts and helps me with Workshop admin. My Mum home bakes and prepares refreshments for my workshops. My florist freelance friend helps with some of the larger wedding installs and I’ve had help from a couple of upcoming florist students this year for larger installs.
My daughters are learning and are in the studio regularly (they are also the stars of most of my Instagram pictures!) and my husband is additional transport, video and IT support!

What do you love about it?

It’s an enjoyment to work on a bride’s wedding flowers and put a smile on her face. I also enjoy teaching others my craft. I enjoy the independence of having my own business and being flexible for my customers. Wreath workshops are fun, we listen to Christmas tunes while we work and learn and I’m always so proud of the creations. It’s also an honour to work on funeral flowers as it’s the last thing I can do for the family.

What are the challenges of making Christmas Wreaths / being a florist?

Time! There are never enough hours in the day and I find that I’m doing ten things at once. I’m ambitious and want to help everyone. I also find that things are changing with technology, social media and trends. I sometimes feel more like a photographer than a florist! But it’s fun and I can be flexible for my children for school holidays.

How did you get into wreath making?

I’ve been making Christmas Wreaths since I was 7. my love of flowers started at a very young age. As a child I used to enter the children’s sections of shows, and as there was only normally one class for floristry, I often entered the adult’s classes. Being a country girl the materials were always on my doorstep.

What qualifications did you need to become a Florist?

I attended floristry evening classes at the age of 11 (I was the youngest in my class by about 50 years!) I have GCSE’s and completed a College Floristry Qualification Passing with Distinctions.
Most importantly you need to have an artistic mind, flare for creativity and passion.

What are the current fashion trends for wreath making?

Naturals and the use of different foliages, which I absolutely love. So we’re seeing more use of what we can find in nature (leaves, willow etc) and natural colours. It’s actually amazing the diversity that comes out when you get creative with your Christmas Wreath!
As soon as people see the photos for the new Number 10 wreath, they want a mini version for their own front door!

What are your favourite styles of Christmas Wreaths?

I like naturals but with the use of natural decorations too, I make my own dried oranges for Christmas Wreaths, and seasonally I grow my own bulbs and squashes / pumpkins. We go foraging for cones and berries.

How many wreaths do you make a year? Any useful tips?

I used to make over 500 wreaths a year, but I’ve recently diversified the business and now concentrate more on delivering Christmas Wreath Workshops and local classes. I’ve got over 120 people coming this year between the end of November and the beginning of December. That’s going to be a lot of mince pies and malt loaf for Mum to make!
I probably make just over 100 wreaths now.

As mentioned I get my materials for Wreaths from my local Christmas Tree Farm who I’ve built up a very good relationship with over the years; Friezland Farm. I make their Christmas “Posh” Wreaths and big Festive Kissing Balls.

My tip is to keep the wreath ‘bunches’ small and work in one direction. If you know, you know! Also less is more. I’m excellent at ribbon / bow tying too!
Make a nice fan bunch in your hand of mixed foliages and keep moving around the mossed ring remembering all your angles are covered. Bind the wire nice and tight to get that seamless doughnut shape.

Are you designing wreaths / flowers all year?

I start shopping for wreath decorations from Boxing Day in the sales! I can’t have a shortage of baubles or ribbon at my workshops!
Year round I’m collecting ideas, taking notes of trends and I’m collecting materials all year too. I’m like Mrs Claus I have that many decorations stashed away! I also love Christmas and family so it’s perfect.

How does it feel to be creating the Christmas Wreath at number 10?

It’s been an honour to win the British Christmas Tree Growers Association competition (2023) 3 times (in association with Friezland) to create the Wreath for Number 10.

It’s definitely a career highlight and I still can’t believe it’s real. I feel so proud to be recognised for my work and the industry. I’ve also learned to enjoy the moment of designing the wreath, making it and placing it on the famous black door.
I felt like I was in Love Actually and needed to “work on my wave!”. I’ve also walked up the hallowed ‘Jump’ staircase like Hugh Grant!
There’s nothing I’ve been more proud of and have enjoyed more than driving up to the gate of Number 10 and spotting the tourists outside who will be wondering of there’s somebody famous in the car. Little do they know it’s me with a fabulous wreath for the door that people will see all over the world via the TV for the next month.
In 2019 my wreath got a lot of coverage because it was the elections and then the summit. Larry the cat pictured next to my wreath is a personal favourite too.

What do you do the rest of the year?

I’m a Florist through and through and the main concentration is on Wedding flowers. I work with a local venue to provide their brides with flowers for their big day and often filling some big installs (doorways, moon gates, archways). I’ve recently for a family wedding, decorated a ski chair lift with flowers!
I also host seasonal Wreath workshops, so Easter and Autumn as treads are becoming very popular.
This December I’m hoping to take my family to Number 10 for the Christmas light switch on which I’ve been invited to. It’s a little thank you for the competition and donation of the Wreath by the growers. We’ll get to go into Number 10 and meet the Prime Minister (not Hugh Grant).

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We were officially invited to No. 10 Downing Street to take the wreaths down and hang them on the door. Toby (Friezland owner), his family and myself went down to place the wreaths and to make sure everything was perfect.

Though we’ve got a funny story this year… No 10 chose the Gold Wreath (which we hung on the door on the 25th Nov), only to then for them to later favour the Red one, which would look better with the fabulous 18.5ft nord Christmas tree outside. Which explains the different pictures you may have seen.

We were also kindly invited back to the light switch on, which was an absolute pleasure and a real privilege, especially meeting the PM!

I made sure that the wreath was still looking top notch, and even added in some additional Forever Roses to make it look extra special! So in front of lots of MPs, Lords and Ladies at No10 and with lots of people taking photos I did a live floristry demonstration on the steps of No 10 Downing Street.

The Gold one then went on to No 11, the residence, of Chancellor of the Exchequer.