Willow weaving courses, craft kits and handcrafted gifts

Read more... Willow weaving courses, kits and online workshops from UK makers. What a wonderful work of nature is the willow. Did you know that the stringent bark of the willow, used in the leather tanning process is also a powerful pain reliever known from the time of Hippocrates? I'm not advocating that you chew willow bark but it surely is an amazingly useful plant. Traditionally willow was used for a multitude of items from shoemakers' lasts to ladders, fences and of course baskets. It is a durable, resilient, pliable material and grows with wild abandon wherever there is water. This gave rise to willow working industries on the banks of some of our great rivers (like Beckingham on the Trent) and some still survive. Think of how the baskets for hot air balloons are made or fantastic sculptures for the garden or even eco-friendly coffins! You too can learn the art of willow weaving. It is such an environmentally friendly material, to make your own baskets, sculptures and artefacts. We have plenty of willow work courses to choose from and they are all great fun and very informative. Also a really great day out for a group of friends.