The public involvement day was a roaring success. The weather was good so there were lots of people in the park enjoying the sunshine. Many people came to see the demonstrations and find out more about what the volunteers have been up to and learn about willow.
Several of our younger visitors helped with the scribble weave sculptures.
or made willow stars
The toilet block hurdle and the garden enclosure were both finished.
The new hurdle for the bin enclosure was started and volunteers demonstrated willow fish making and how to make the covers
We even had a canine visitor who was more interested in the water in the bucket than the willow itself to be honest.
Proud volunteers and Withy Arts workers at the end of a delightful project.
We spent yesterday evening preparing for Saturday’s public involvement day. The volunteers will be demonstrating their skills, talking to people about the project and the new woven things at the park and giving people the opportunity to do some weaving themselves.
We spent some time looking at what we like and dislike personally when we are being engaged as participants at events.
This was the last of our practical sessions weaving together. All the skills have been passed on and the volunteers are ready to weave without us.
Everyone made willow fish at home and a beautiful shoal came back as diverse as their creators.
Stuart and Eunice installed their covers…
Those who hadn’t had the chance to learn the flower and the tension plate did some catching up…
and preparations continued for the Public Involvement Day; all spare hands made progress with the spheres so that they are ready for people to add their scribble weave to…
This week we made armatures for willow spheres which we then started to fill in with ‘scribble weaving’ which as the name suggests is a technique where the willow withy is woven in a random fashion to create an interesting effect.
Everyone made a small sphere. We will be using this activity at the Public Involvement Day, Saturday 12th May 2018 at Whitlingham Country Park where members of the public will be encouraged to contribute to what will become a willow sculpture in the park.
In the afternoon everyone carried on with their personal projects. Eunice and Stuart finished their covers.
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.
