DESPITE the miserable weather, Combe St Nicholas Village Hall, was filled with fun and laughter recently at the first of a series of flower arranging workshops planned for 2017.

Blooming with inspiration, ladies brushed away the winter blues and after watching step-by-step demonstrations, all worked enthusiastically on their “Winter Wonderland” designs.

They each made a beautiful winter garden with a contemporary twist. Using just a few flowers, winter foliage, flowering bulbs, natural materials, twigs and even test tubes and cotton wool, each design was a feast for the eyes.

Kay Pendleton (pictured) from Combe St Nicholas said: “I was really pleased with my design; the workshop was inspiring.”

“I was so looking forward to getting back to flower arranging and doing something completely different this time. It was a great fun day with lovely ladies”, said Louise Boffey from Chaffcombe.

Local tutor Jackie Nicholls from Ashville Design who runs the workshops said: “January and February are pretty miserable months and most people need something to cheer them up. We had so much fun at this event with an abundance of jokes all day – it really was uplifting! 10 out of 10 from me to everyone who attended.”