Living Willow Courses

It is a constant source of amazement just how many creative things you can do with a humble Willow stick.
Here at The Willowbank we have been working with this versatile material and running living willow courses for 15 years.
We run courses in all aspects of Living Willow; from planting and harvesting to making complete living sculptures.

Living Willow Sculptures: Beginners

Learn the foundations of building strong, healthy structures.
Learn how to make the simplest of all living willow structures, the Fedge, the fence that thinks it’s a hedge! The emphasis will be hands on so that each participant will have the experience of making a Fedge. We will also cover site selection, suitable varieties and grading of willow and of course, the 4 golden rules which are the key to making successful, long-lived willow structures. We have a maximum no of 6 participants to ensure high quality tuition. We also provide handouts & a free DVD “Making Living Sculptures” to take home.

Day Course Details
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: £55.

You can take this course either as a 'stand-alone' or if you wish, back to back with the Intermediate course for just £100.
A list of local accommodation is available for anyone wishing to stay overnight in the beautiful wye valley/forest of dean area.

Living Willow Sculptures: Intermediate

Add another dimension to your living willow structure skills!
Learn how to adapt the basic Fedge design to make any type of living willow structure you like whether an arch, roundhouse or arbour. Again the emphasis is hands on, making an actual structure. You will also learn top tips such as how to maximise a small site to create a larger space and how to get just the right amount of curvaceousness into your willow domes. We have a maximum no of 6 participants to ensure high quality tuition. We also provide handouts & a free DVD “Making Living Sculptures” to take home.

Day Course Details
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: £55.

. .  01594 861782   or & or

Living Willow Weekend Course

Get away from it all and immerse yourself in willow!
A residential weekend incorporating the above day courses and then some!
We start with a tour of existing mature structures, hedges and willow beds. We will then harvest and grade the willow to be used for the weekend. After a delicious vegetarian evening meal on Saturday Steve will present his famous willows in art, technology & the environment slideshow. Or you can just kick back with a bottle of our Ragmans Lane Cider in front of the willow powered masonry stove with your new willow friends. We have a maximum no of 12 participants and 2 experienced tutors to ensure high quality tuition. We also provide handouts & a free DVD “Making Living Sculptures” to take home.

Weekend Course Details
Time: Sat 10am - Sun 3.30pm
Cost: £185.

Accommodation is in the Ragmans lane bunkhouse which is heated by a willow powered masonry stove as used throughout Scandinavia.
Delicious home cooked vegetarian food is provided by Anna our local chef extraordinaire.
A £50 non-returnable deposit will reserve a place on this popular course.
Participants travelling long distance may arrive Friday evening in which case we will provide hot soup & roll and breakfast on Saturday morning.

. .  01594 861782   or & or

Dry Willow Courses

It is a constant source of amazement just how many creative things you can do with a dry Willow stick.
Here at The Willowbank we have been working with this versatile material and running living willow courses for 15 years.
We run courses in all aspects of Dry Willow; from weaving simple decorative garden planters to making your own furniture.

Round Willow Beds for the garden.

Spend a day learning how to weave round raised beds, tubs & pot covers for your garden using dry willow. The emphasis will be hands on, working at your own pace in a relaxed atmosphere and using several simple weaving techniques to make 1 or more items to take home.
There will be a small fee for materials used. There is a maximum of 8 participants.

Day Course Details
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: £55 (including entrance to Puzzlewood)

. .  01594 861782   or & or

Square Willow Beds & Panels for the Garden.

Participants will have a choice of making small panels that can be joined together to make square raised beds or flat panels for plants to climb against a wall. The emphasis will be hands on, working at your own pace in a relaxed atmosphere and using several simple weaving techniques to make 1 or more items to take home.
There will be a small fee for materials used. There is a maximum of 8 participants.

Day Course Details
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: £55 (including entrance to Puzzlewood)

. .  01594 861782   or & or

Plant Climbers for the Garden

Learn to make small or large round plant climbers suitable for climbers such as sweet peas or beans or to support floppy herbaceous plants in your ornamental borders or kitchen garden. The emphasis will be hands on, working at your own pace in a relaxed atmosphere and using several simple weaving techniques to make 1 or more items to take home.
There will be a small fee for materials used. There is a maximum of 8 participants.

Day Course Details
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: £55 (including entrance to Puzzlewood)

. .  01594 861782   or & or

Bespoke Courses

Can’t make it to Ragmans?
We may be able arrange a course on a date to suit you.
We can come to you and teach you and your friends/colleagues in the comfort of your own garden
whilst installing a willow structure of your choice.

Cost £275 + willow + travel expenses

Venue
Ragmans lane farm is a 60 acre farm in the Forest of Dean, overlooking the River Wye. There is 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.

Tutors

Steve Pickup 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.. .