Willow Wintry Wildlife

Create a four-legged willow sculpture for display in your garden especially during the festive season. Enjoy a day of weaving wildlife sculpture. Choose from a red, roe, fallow or reindeer, or maybe a fox or badger. 

Willow sculptor Jane Fletcher will guide you through the process of working with willow, using a freeflow technique, weaving around hoops of a skeletal frame. You will sculpt with willow to build up the shape of your chosen animal, then add detail and character to bring it to life. By the end of the day you will have developed the feel for working with willow and learnt some standard weaving techniques in the process. 

Tutor: Jane Fletcher has been exploring possibilities with willow for 20 years, running workshops and establishing a nursery, Really Useful Plants, in Starcross, Devon. Amongst other things, they specialise in growing willow species as ornamental and wildlife plants as well as for hedging, sculpture, basketry, floristry and craft purpose.

Jane has a Foundation Degree in Environmental Art and Rural Crafts, with a background in facilitation and supportive roles as a Rural Skills Tutor, and Therapeutic Conservation and Horticulture based support worker. She is passionate about traditional crafts and nature connection, and is keen to engage others with the joy of working with willow.

Location and arrival information: The workshop will take place in the Peter Buckley Learning Centre, with a short time spent outside to see where willow is grown at RHS Rosemoor. Please allow 15 minutes to park in the main visitor car park, enter the garden and get to the Learning Centre.  

Catering: Tea / coffee and biscuits will be available in the classroom at the start of the day and again in the afternoon. As part of the booking process, you will choose a picnic lunch option which is included in the workshop price.

For this workshop you will need:

• Your booking reference number to show to the team at the Garden Entrance. 
• A notebook and pencil to make notes.
• Secateurs
• Gloves if you wish to wear them.
• Shoes with enclosed toes, old clothes and layers. Willow work is very active and you might get quite warm. ​
• Clothing and footwear suitable for being indoors and outdoors, appropriate to weather on the day. 

Skill Level: General – I want to enjoy, discover or learn from this workshop, whatever what my existing skill level.