Working with willow

Making living willow structures
A two day hands-on course in designing and making living willow structures. The weekend starts with a tour of willow beds and structures made by previous enthusiatic students. Working together participants will help make two structures using the Universal Weave. By the end of the course participants will be able to design and make a wide range of structures including fedges, arches, domes, arbours, mazes etc. Suitable for complete beginners. There will be handouts to take home and willow material will be on sale for your own projects. See above for list of dates.

Venue
Ragmans lane farm is a 60 acre farm in the Forest of Dean, overlooking the River Wye. Course participants are housed in a bunkhouse which is airy, spacious & communal – and heated by willow in a state-of-the-art ceramic stove. There is also an increasing number of living willow sculptures on the farm made by previous enthusiastic students! It is 30 minutes drive from Hereford and Gloucester and 1 hour drive from Bristol. A local bus service travels from Gloucester to the nearest village where we can pick you up.

Booking
All courses are £185 including accommodation and all meals.
A (non-returnable) deposit of £50 will secure a place.

. . 01594 861782

. .

Get your friends to build your structure for you!

If you host your own course, either at your home or at a location of your own choosing, we will come to you and teach you and your friends/colleagues/neighbours how to make a living willow structure of your own choice.

You will aquire a new skill, a living willow structure and perhaps some new friends!

01594 861782

Tutors

Steve Pickup
is one of the original pioneers of living willow craft and has spent over 12 years designing and installing Living Willow Structures for schools, public spaces and private clients in Britain and the USA. He has developed the Universal Weave, a simple but effective technique designed specifically for Living Willow Structures that can be used to make any type of structure whether it be a Fedge, dome or labyrinth.

Carine Van Gestel
teaches crafts and landwork skills at a local Steiner school and on summer camps. She has always enjoyed being creative with her hands (they rarely stop!) and willow is her favourite medium.

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