Willow Workshops
Living and Non-living led by Jo Hammond & Debbie Hart.
Course details
Participants will be able to work on their own projects either outside or in a spacious barn, with tea & coffee facilities to hand.
Students will be able to learn basic techniques to get started with willow work and will get a feel for the material and pick up some reliable tips from experienced tutors.
Throughout the day or weekend students should be able to complete a project set by the tutor with materials provided by Ashmans Farm.
With the variety of projects on offer, participants can choose a project as simple or as challenging as they wish. Help and guidance will be constantly available from an experienced tutor with step-by-step tuition available for beginners.
A tour around the farm and its willow plantations will provide a fascinating insight into willow and its cultivation. Robert Goodwin will guide you through the many uses and types of this plant from biomass for fuel, fencing, basketry, decoration and floristry.
Tutors
Jo Hammond has a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, which shows itself in her feel for simple rhythmic designs. Other qualifications include a City & Guilds 7307 Teachers' certificate and a certificate in Countryside and Heritage Interpretation.
Jo took up basketry more than 12 years ago when the gift of a book opened her eyes to the weaving materials that surrounded her home.
Teaching and demonstrating for the past five years, Jo has worked with a variety of organisations including the Field Studies Council, Suffolk College, The RHS and the Woodland Trust. As a tutor she shows patience and enthusiasm and offers plenty of hands-on help.
Debbie Hart is a horticulturalist at a local College for the past 20 years and is involved in many of the arts projects that take place both within and outside the college.
Debbie has been constructing willow features for approximately 10 years and her work involves school workshops, courses for adults in colleges and at private gardens, constructing items such as in situ fencing, living willow tunnels, bowers and bespoke pieces as requested.
Examples of work by course tutor Debbie Hart:
Examples of work by course tutor Jo Hammond:
Photos of previous courses in action:
Workshop dates for 2007
Sat 21st & Sun 22nd April (Living & some non-living)
Sat 5th & Sun 6th May (Living & some non-living)
Sat 9th & Sun 10th June (Non-living)
Sat 4th & Sun 5th August (Non-living)
Please bring
- Folding knife (if you have one)
- Practical clothing (wellies, waterproof jacket, warm clothing)
- Notebook & pencil
- Secateurs
Course fees & booking procedures
Please contact Robert for more details.
Courses include tuition, lunch and a tour of the Willow beds plus all the materials you will need for the course.
Courses will run from 9.30am until approx 4.30pm. People attending the two days may (by arrangement with the tutor) start earlier on the second day if you wish to. If you are not local to the area we can recommend some local B&Bs within 5 minutes drive of the farm.
Please make provisional bookings by phone, before completing and returning a booking form to the address.
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| Willow workshop booking form |  |
No credit/debit cards, sorry. Cheques or cash only. Office Hours: 0900-1700. Answer phone available.