How to make Corn Dollies with Rhia Davenport and Ffern

In celebration of Lunasa and the harvest, we documented Rhia Davenport, who practises the ancient folk craft of wheat weaving, creating her favourite Corn Dolly - a Devonshire Neck Corn Dolly.

Lunasa marks the celebration of the harvest and the turning from summer towards autumn. It is one of eight seasonal festivals in the Wheel of the Year, a calendar inspired by the changing seasons and cycles of nature.

Corn Dollies are ancient harvest effigies, traditionally woven from dried ears and straw to honour the Corn Spirit, which was believed to live in the last sheaf of corn. This could be woven into a Corn Dolly and kept through winter, with the belief that the spirit would protect the land and bring a good harvest the following year.

Filming took place at Simply Straw Farm in Yoxall, in the heart of Staffordshire, where traditional long straw is grown for plaiting and making Corn Dollies.