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Mr Lipfird demonstrates the skill by taking a long rush in one hand and a second in his other hand.

He folds the second rush in two and wraps it tightly around the halfway point of the first rush, which remains full length.

This creates a T-shape which he turns 90 degrees so the folded rush points south.

"It's quite therapeutic," he said.

"You just keep folding and you're turning in a clockwise direction and gradually the cross develops."

He then lifts a third rush and folds that in half as well, wrapping it over the fold of the already bent rush to secure that one in place.

Turning it another 90 degrees, it is only when a fourth folded rush is added that it takes the shape of a crucifix.

"It's about keeping them neat.

If you let (them) loose at all, they fall all over the place."

The final rush tucks inside the penultimate fold, and the four ends are bound with elastic and cut to an even length.

Mr Lipfird always uses 13 rushes to create a small cross, but

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