Arbury Hall Game and Country Fair

Steve attended the game fair in Nuneaton last weekend. The setting was beautiful but unfortunately the weather was the usual British spring weather. Strong winds and heavy showers. The show was very poorly attended but those who did brave the weather did enjoy themselves. Mick and Avril Priestly were demonstrating their woodcraft skills - Mick's carved heads and Avril's stools and benches. We are hoping for better weather next weekend when we are very close to home at the Countryside Fest at Westmorland Showground, Crooklands just down the road from us.

Meanwhile we are creating willow sculptures at various schools in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Beatrix Potter Garden

We went to the grand opening of the Beatrix Potter Garden. Chris Collins the Blue Peter gardener was the guest of honour. Despite it being a very rainy day the garden looked fantastic and our willow work was much appreciated. The pics are of Steve, some of our weaving and the trio are Richard Lucas (the garden designer), Simone and Chris Coles (BBC Blue Peter). Beatrix Potter is very popular in Japan and China so as well as the ITV border Television filming the opening there was a film crew from China.

We loaded the van in readiness for the Game Fair at Pickering Showground this weekend. Steve will be demonstrating basketmaking and Simone will be demonstrating willow sculpture. We are hoping for good weather but are prepared for rain.

Willow Demonstrations

Now that its started raining again the English summer begins. This means that we will be appearing at garden events, countryside shows and game fairs throughout the land.
Our first event is at Pickering Showground next weekend. Lets hope the rain has stopped by then!

A Picture from an early workshop at Beamish

Here is a picture from about 10 years ago of a basketmaking workshop held at Beamish Museum. Everyone had a good day and managed to complete a basket.

Dalby Forest Living Willow Snake

We finally finished creating the willow snake at Dalby Forest near Pickering. We worked with the Friends Of Dalby Forest to weave the markings for the snake. The weather was brilliant today and we had an enjoyable day.

The first picture is of the Beatrix Potter Garden, Windermere. Richard Lucas, the garden designer, is being filmed for the BBC programme Country File. we were filmed weaving the willow borders.

The second picture is of the Living Willow Snake at Dalby Forest.

Some of our assorted willow weaving pictures can be seen on the link below.

There are also some pictures of our travels around europe.

here is the link http://picasaweb.google.com/willowpool

last gasp of living willow season

This week and next are our last living willow projects until November. Today we made a living willow fence at Garston C of E Primary School, Liverpool. Yesterday we were working on the new Beatrix Potter Garden in Windermere. Sunday finds us in The Dalby Forest near Pickering finishing of creating a Living Willow Snake!

Simone is standing in the Beatrix Potter Garden in Windermere and had just finished weaving the panel in the background.

The Beatrix Potter garden was designed by Richard Lucas who also created the Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winning Cumbrian Fellside Garden with Kim Wilde. We carried out all of the willow work on that garden as well.