This week’s session after the Easter break saw the volunteers at Whitlingham Country Park using their newly acquired skills to weave more of the items they have already made.
Susan working on a garden hurdle…
…and with the finished product.
Susan working on a garden hurdle for the car park flower bed and with the finished product.
Laura finishing off the hoops on her hurdle.
Eunice and Stuart working on covers, using the gorgeously coloured Repps Meadow willow.
David and Sarah with this hurdle. It’s going to be used to hide the bins and really too lovely for that job!
Session 3 was about refining our newly acquired weaving skills to make finer, more delicate items. Starting with tension plates and moving on to bird feeders the results are super.
Our second weaving session was taken up with round work, starting with some structures that will be used to cover unsightly items around the site. We used boards with pre-drilled holes to start the structures off and made a simple but effective top by folding over the remaining willow withies.
Laura is randing having stated with a three rod wale which makes the structure really strong.
Martin is adding uprights for a super strong final border.
David randing.
The weavers added Repps Meadow willow for a decorative touch.
The finished (upside down) covers.
Installing the cover…
And here’s the result. Good job!
In the afternoon we made wigwams for plant supports. We left them up near the visitors centre because they look so good.
Our new project involves the volunteers at Whitlingham Country Park near Norwich.We are teaching them to make hurdles, covers and screens and also small items and sculpture with willow.
We helped cut the willow from Repp’s Meadow back in February alongside the volunteers. At our first session on site we wove hurdles to enclose a flower bed.
Our first AGM as a charity was held last November.
It was a great time to celebrate our achievements so far and look to future projects. Have a look at the report of our chair of trustees, Jerry Walker. WITHY ARTS Annual Report from the Chair of Trustees
While the exhibition is on we did a second public workshop at the museum in the marquee alongside the display. This time group members made the square zarzo basket from willow.
Wednesday saw the private view of the exhibition at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse where members of both basket-making groups came together with friends, families and Withy Arts project workers and trustees to celebrate their success at the opening of the exhibition.
The baskets look beautiful and have had many appreciative comments from museum staff and visitors already.
Joan’s sister Heather was able to come along to see her lovely work.
The new Withy Arts banners look splendid and gave a special feel to the exhibition.
If you get the chance, the exhibition is open every day until Sunday 29th October 2017. Our thanks to Paul and Miriam at Gressenhall for their help setting up.
