Living willow workshops stop around Easter each year, since planting willow once it has come out of its dormant phase is much less successful. However, it is still possible for schools and groups to work with willow in a different way in summer, by using dried willow 'withies' for sculpture. Withies are cut during the winter and commercially stripped and dried. The resulting rods are inflexible and must be soaked for around 24 hours to make them pliable and suitable for sculpture work.

Groups can be involved in designing and making sculptures. It is usually possible for several small groups to be involved throughout the design and construction process and workshops range from one day, maybe creating one simple structure, to several day events creating a variety of different sculptures and forms. We have created sculptures with all ages, and with students with special educational and mobility needs. Working with the material helps to improve co-ordination and motor skills and also encourages team working. Emphasis is on encouraging creativity within the group and helping each member make a contribution to the finished product.

Finished sculptures can be sited indoors or in an outside area. We would usually install the pieces at the end of the workshop and prefer to install outdoor sculptures on soft ground where they can be staked and pinned, since finished pieces are quite light. The sculptures last several years, but, being made of a natural material, will eventually biodegrade. This process can be slowed by giving your pieces occasional coats of linseed oil, and by bringing them inside in the winter months.

Withies can also be used to construct inner frameworks for large puppets and carnival pieces and we use them extensively for festival pieces, please take a look at the festivals page for some of these.

Images from recent workshops can be seen in the gallery, click on one of the images below to see more.