Top 10 Best Willow Weaving classes, courses, learnings kits and gifts in the UK

During this class you will learn two types of weave to create a round willow basket. The morning will be spent creating the base, using six thick base sticks and a pairing weave, then after inserting the uprights and 'pricking up' you will break for lunch. After lunch you will learn a new weave, three rod waling, to complete the walls of your basket. You will end the day and the basket with a fancy complex three rod wale border. Learn lots of useful facts about willow and how to harvest and prepare it throughout the day. Your finished basket will last for years and you will also have the skills to repair old baskets and to weave garden items too using the same techniques learned on the day.

This is a two day course running on consecutive Sundays. The second Sunday is the one after the date listed. Each Sunday runs from 10am till 4pm, 6 hours each day. (14th & 21st January, 4th & 11th February and 25th February & 3rd March) These are practical hands on sessions, looking at designing and making living willow structures. You will be shown how to lay out, plant and construct with living willow; and will help build a large structure using traditional weaving techniques. We will be exploring domes, tunnels, archways and more sculptural forms. You will also be taught about the care and maintenance required for a structure to thrive in its environment. These workshops are being offered in a short window of opportunity to both harvest and plant living willow structures. The sessions run from 10am till 4pm. Warm comfortable weather-proof clothing is essential. Please bring a packed lunch and a flask. There are composting toilets on site, as well as fresh drinking water.

Set in the peaceful grounds of the Ecology Centre this workshops introduces you to the start of the basketweaving process using the 'stake and strand method'. We will be working under shelter using English willow to learn about base construction, allowing you time to get into the rhythm of willow weaving. At the end of the session you will have produced a basket base which you can either leave as a trivet or flower wall decoration. I am also running a second workshop that helps to develop the technique learnt in this workshop and allows you to create a full basket. It uses cane instead of willow, an easier material to work with when creating a full basket allowing you to concentrate on perfecting your technique. See Basketmaking - Part 2 in my listings if you would like to attend - you don't need to have attended this workshop. We will meet on the lawn next to the Old Rectory building, The Old Rectory, Festival Walk, Carshalton, SM5 3NY Covid guidelines The session will take place outdoors but will remain socially distanced and I will wear a mask if in close contact with you. Please bring a towel and your own pair of secateurs to minimise sharing of tools. There is a toilet on site but please bring your own sanitiser. There is no access to refreshments on site however we are near Honeywood Museum Cafe or you're welcome to bring a flask.

Catalan Trays, also known as Tension trays are a nice introduction into the world of basketweaving and produce effective results with the use of hoop making and a simple weaving technique. Set in the peaceful grounds of the Ecology Centre we will be working under shelter using English willow to produce a tray ideal for serving fruit or bread at a table or for display on the wall. We will meet on the lawn next to the Old Rectory building, The Old Rectory, Festival Walk, Carshalton, SM5 3NY

Basketweaving is an ancient craft that incorporates many materials and weaving styles. It is also just as much a creative process as it is calming, social and meditative. This workshop will give you an introduction into the coiled technique. Coiling is typically a ‘foragers’ weaving style, an ancient and versatile technique that is used worldwide with the materials adapting to the native area. In this class we will be using a range of natural and coloured raffia to produce a flat weave that could be used as drinks coasters or a small mat. You will be provided with a starter kit containing enough material to continue weaving at home as the addictive rhythm of the weave draws you in! I will also talk through the types of plants you could gather from your local area to continue weaving at home. If you would like to bring any extra materials to weave with (such as wool/fabric offcuts/plastic bags/natural materials) please feel free. The workshop is being held during London Design Festival at Botanical Boys, Coal Drops Yard, London

This workshop is ideal for anyone wanting to learn how to make a traditional English stake and strand basket. I will be showing you the basic techniques of how to construct a small fruit basket. Ideal for beginners, we will be using a range of colourful cane which is a great material to learn with as it's easier on the hands than willow and allows you to focus on the technique and rhytmm of weaving. You will be guided through the process of constructing a basket from base to border. If anyone would like to try willow weaving I am running a Part 1 workshop which focuses just on the basket base construction using this english grown material and allows you to create a trivet or wall decoration. See my other listings if you'd like to attend. Meet at the Sutton Ecology Centre entrance on Festival Walk by Carshalton Ponds Covid guidelines The session will take place outdoors but will remain socially distanced and I will wear a mask if in close contact with you. Please bring a towel and your own pair of secateurs to minimise sharing of tools. There is a toilet on site but please bring your own sanitiser. There is no access to refreshments on site however we are near Honeywood Museum Cafe or you're welcome to bring a flask.