Christmas in the Country with Hay Farm

This year, Emma Britton glassware settled into the theme of ‘Christmas in the Country’ for our festive photography. We really wanted to evoke a sense of ‘home’ and honouring festive traditions within a magical, rural setting for our Christmas look.

A generous invite to Hay Farm, nestled in rural Derbyshire provided an idyllic setting to create the magic. Home to our lovely customer, Deb. It was such a treat to spend time in this charming setting and bring together our hosting and decorating styles.

Read on for ‘Christmas in the Country’ inspiration for your home in the style of Hay Farm and gifting ideas. Deb’s ‘behind the scenes’ insight and prep for our photoshoot shows setting a festive scene can be fuss free! So do wrap her creativity into your own celebrations.

Deb’s warm welcome and eye for detail and design created an enchanting atmosphere. Her adorable cats clearly love Hay Farm and the comfort of Christmas too (read on to meet Deb’s gorgeous tabby). We hope the following inspires you to invite a little bit of country style into your home, wherever you live.

Tell us a little bit about your home, Hay Farm…

Hay Farm is a south facing stone Georgian farmhouse set in the rolling Derbyshire countryside on the edge of the Peak District. The house sits in the middle of 3 acres of ancient woodland, an orchard, hay meadow and many areas of wildflowers.  All surrounded by a continuously running brook.

Beyond are fields & views of the  Derbyshire countryside that constantly change with the seasons.  The farmhouse, with its many original features & its land has been carefully & lovingly restored since 2018. 

Thank you for letting us photograph Emma Britton glassware for Christmas at Hay Farm – it was the perfect setting. What did you enjoy about the experience?

It’s always lovely to welcome guests and share my home, especially when it’s creative and not an everyday kind of visit! Prior to the photoshoot I had been out in the woodland gathering foliage that I hoped would work well with Emma’s gorgeous glassware. I made a wreath for the kitchen door and tablescaped the dining room table with cones, berries, holly, ivy and berries.

The fires were lit early and the candles were flickering in anticipation of a creative day . I loved helping out with the display of the hampers in our snug , they are such a lovely idea. They’ll make a fabulous gift – I can vouch that the little biscuits are absolutely delicious.

Your home felt so Christmassy, have you got any favourite festive season rituals and traditions…

Around the end of November, early December I make Christmas swags and wreaths for my friends. I collect foliage and berries from the garden, then condition it all for a couple of days in the garage. I don’t usually have an idea of what I’m going to create or a particular design, although I do like to use a different ribbon each year. As soon as I start to gather from the garden the ideas start to flow.

The kitchen table gets cleared, candles are lit. These are realistic LED ones, safe in Emma’s Silver Birch Vase. The Christmas music goes on and I get creative , sometimes with a friend or two…..there may be a small tipple enjoyed in the early afternoon as the designs take shape!

Did the photoshoot give you any new Christmas inspiration?

I am definitely going to try Emma’s festive blackberry fool recipe – a little bit might have found its way into our fridge which was enjoyed later . The silver birch bowls are just delightful and are on my ‘to purchase’ list .

What does Christmas in the country look like for you?

Getting cosy with the fires & scented candles lit. I like to bring sweet smelling conifer into the house mixed in with the spruce. Lots of bitter smelling dried orange slices with cones,  for me, the smells are as important as the visuals.

I love a real tree, preferably from the garden , the ritual of cutting it & bringing it in the house is all part of Christmas. Decorations are simple , glass, wooden and of course the ones that have been gathered over the years that don’t quite ‘go’!

Warm white fairy lights are in abundance throughout the house , it all feels quite magical. 

The very last thing I do is to bring some mistletoe inside – some years ago I spotted it growing in an old crab apple tree in the orchard but it never had berries so I grafted a small piece into another fruit tree & lo & behold , it grew with berries. Proud moment!

I try to pace myself up to Christmas so that I can enjoy the run up rather than feel frazzled. Depending on numbers I keep cooking & baking simple, pared back and uncomplicated. That way I’m relaxed when the guests start to arrive and I can enjoy myself too.

I love to surprise friends and family with something different each year whether it be the decor, a different way of serving food & drinks or a party game. A personally compiled quiz is a non negotiable part of the entertainment.

Any go to Christmas tipples you can recommend?

My favourite tipple (besides bubbles) is a bramble cocktail so I like to make a version of that. I treated myself to some Emma Britton Silver birch Tumblers earlier this year. They work really well for water, but I’m going to try them with a Bramble this Christmas. We have loads of blackberries in our hedgerows and I gather them to make a Bramble gin – the base of the cocktail.

I also freeze some for fruit crumbles and glass garnishes – I make a long spear from rosemary, strip some of the leaves off and thread a couple of blackberries on. Served with little nibbles, they will set the scene!