Willow Garden Structures - Carole Beavis

Get creative in the garden! Expert Carole Beavis will teach you all you need to know about willow and how to make your own garden-enhancing structures. Over the two days students will create two 'portable' items to take away together with the knowledge and experience to continue with larger projects at home. Develop your ideas in whatever direction you choose, be classic and ornamental or wild and wacky!
An intensely satisfying and versatile medium, willow makes an attractive addition to any outdoor space.

The Course (2 days)

As an introduction you will learn how willow can be grown, prepared, woven and sculpted to produce a range of different structures. Carole will show examples of her own work and demonstrate the techniques employed. Over the 2 days you will have the opportunity to create structures of your own to take home. Basic projects include an obelisk/plant support and a small decorative hurdle. Further embellishments such as woven spheres or birds may be added if desired.

The course will offer hands-on experience building larger structures such as dens, arches and seating. Carole will also cover the theory and practice involved in producing living willow sculptures. Note, the actual planting of living willow is a seasonal activity, taking place in the winter months.

Most of the class will be garden-based - with the studio as back-up in the event of poor weather. The house and studio back onto organically farmed land with views across the fields to Carsington Water making it a lovely place to work..

Carole offers a wealth of experience in creating all kinds of willow structures. She is happy to give practical advice to those with specific projects awaiting them at home. She will also provide handouts giving clear step by step instruction and listing suppliers.

Tutor: Carole Beavis

Carole has spent the last nine years developing her skills as willow weaver and creative practitioner. She has built many sculptures and structures in schools, community spaces and as private commissions. She has recently exhibited at the Sculpture in the Sanctuary event in Lincoln.
Carole is a passionate gardener and has for many years used willow to create interesting, practical and sometimes quirky features for gardens. She enjoys passing on her enthusiasm and skills to others.
She grows her own willow for use in living willow sculptures, but also uses a variety of other hedgerow materials where available. In her opinion, nothing in the garden should be wasted when it could be turned into a magnificent masterpiece!

Materials

There is a basic charge of £20 per person for the willow required to make your obelisk/plant support and a decorative hurdle with an area of approximately one square metre (although not necessarily square in shape!). Additional willow will be available for sale. Living willow can be purchased from the tutor at the end of the course (or ordered depending upon the season.) Tools are provided but if you have secateurs of your own, please bring them.
Note: This materials charge is in addition to the course fee which includes tuition, lunch and refreshments.