WORKSHOPS being held at a shopping centre are being held with the dual aim of giving shoppers a break and helping a charity.

Hampshire Flower Studio will be providing free wreath-making workshops at Festival Place at weekends in the run-up to Christmas.

Participants will be able to learn the traditional art of decorative wreath-making in a specially-designed pop-up studio that aims to create a relaxing and peaceful environment for adults.

Each weekend of workshops will be collecting donations for a different charity from the Basingstoke area, including St Michael’s Hospice and various other good causes in the community.

Jenni Krauklis-Gould, from Hampshire Flower Studio, said: “Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year – but we all know it can also be very stressful at times. We wanted to give people the chance to slow down a bit and enjoy some of the quietness everyone needs in their lives.

“It’s very beneficial to mental health to stop being busy and get back something natural – feeling flowers in your hand, creating something beautiful for the table or door.

“We’ll be creating door wreaths and table wreaths from spruce, eucalyptus, holly and ivy, with seasonal touches such as orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and ribbons. The studio will be decorated like a homely kitchen with the big craft table in the middle, with teas, coffees and cake.

“We will be providing all the fresh foliage and accessories to deliver this experience and participants will be able to take home their creations. So it’s just a case of turning up and being prepared to relax! It will be a very sociable and calm environment – the perfect break for adults among all the excitement of Christmas shopping."

The pop-up studio is located near the Apple store on the upper level at Festival Place.

Sessions can be booked by visiting the Customer Lounge next to Patisserie Valerie. Alternatively, visitors will be able to walk in on the day if spare places are available.

Each adult-only workshop will last around two hours and will accommodate up to 15 people.

The full programme is:

Table Wreath-making

Donations for Anna’s Challenges

Saturday, December 1 – 10am to noon/12.30pm to 2.30pm/3pm to 5pm

Sunday, December 2 – 11am to 1pm/2pm to 4pm

Table Wreath-making

Donations for Sebastian’s Action Trust

Saturday, December 8 – 10am to noon/ 12.30pm to2.30pm/ 3pm to 5pm

Sunday, December 9 – 11am to 1pm/2pm to 4pm

Table Wreath-making

Donations for The Pelican Cancer Foundation

Saturday, December 15 – 10am to noon/12.30pm to 2.30pm/3pm to 5pm

Sunday, December 16 – 11am to 1pm/2pm to 4pm