Coppice, Weave and Make your Own Plant Supports

PLEASE NOTE THE AMENDED DATE FOR THIS WORKSHOP! IT IS A WEEK LATER THAN ADVERTISED IN OUR ORIGINAL LEAFLETS!

At the cusp of late-winter and early spring, we are ready to start thinking about useful equipment for the growing season. Meanwhile it is not too late to be completing the winter pruning and processing of useful materials for this!

Over the day, we will visit our hazel and willow coppices and take some prunings to use for our work. We will talk about right timing for harvesting coppiced products, how to tell if the tree is still dormant, and how they need to be processed for use.

During the day there will be an opportunity to focus on a simple willow weaving project- an obelisk, which provides a great structure for sweet peas or peas to grow up. We will learn about the difference between working with green willow versus rehyrdated dried willow and talk through the process of drying and rehyrdating willow for weaving.

In addition, you can have a go at using our shave horse and draw knife in order to shave off the bark from willow and create a tapered bean pole, or a dibber.

By the end of the session you will take away a pea obelisk and a sample beanpole, peastick or dibber.

The workshop will be run by artist and engineer Simon Tilley, and permaculture practitioner Joy Justice.

Hot drinks and a soup will be provided. Please bring additional food of your own to eat or share over lunch.

The workshop may be mostly indoors or outdoors depending on the weather. We will let you know beforehand so you can dress accordingly!