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16 April 2025
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Chester Hope - Remaining Stocks of Willow Bundles 30.04.25
Posted on 30 April 2025
The current inventory of brown willow bundles at Chester Hope is shown in the table below. If you wish to purchase any of the bundles, please get in touch with me at info@northumbriabasketrygroup.co.uk Variety 6-Foot 7-Foot Black Maul
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Looping Structures Workshop
Posted on 16 April 2025
Over a weekend in late May, Anna Corbett will tutor an exploration of plant fibres and basketry workshop at Bolton Village Hall in Northumberland. For more information about attending this event, please check out the What's On section of the website.
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World Curlew Day 2025 - April 21st
Posted on 16 April 2025
World Curlew Day is a global awareness day celebrating the curlew, a much-loved large wading bird found along the coasts and nesting on the moors of Northumberland. The day is held on April 21st, the feast day of Saint Beuno, the patron saint of curl
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Square Basket Workshop at Hepple Village Hall
Posted on 10 April 2025
Charlotte tutored a two-day Square Basket Workshop at Hepple on Tuesday and Wednesday. The attached image captures members with smiling faces and lovely baskets at the end of the class.
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Opportunity to Assist with Frame 35
Posted on 22 March 2025
I have just received frame 35, one of the BA 50 ‘big weave’ frames, for completion during April and May. Clare Revera made the frame and ribs, A) notes are included for making a conventional centel or B) suggesting one can go ‘off
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Chester Hope - Remaining Stocks of Willow Bundles 22.03.25
Posted on 22 March 2025
Chester Hope – Remaining Stocks of Willow Bundles 22.03.25 The last of the bundles available for sale include the following: Six-Foot Calliantha – 2 bundles Dicky Meadows – 7 bundles Norbury – 1 small bundle Black Maul &
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Signs of Spring at 55 Degrees North
Posted on 03 March 2025
The attached image, taken on March 1st at Chester Hope willow plot, shows green shoots on one of the Bleu Bleu cuttings planted late last year. It highlights the benefits of planting willow cuttings shortly after harvesting begins in November. Early
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Exciting new workshops added to website
Posted on 26 February 2025
Recent additions to the What's on Section of the website include events tutored by Anna Turnbull, Janie Spencer, Charlotte and Emma, and Daniel Sams. Subjects range from creating Swallow sculptures to Hexagonal-Weave Ash Splint Baskets.
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Chester Hope Willow Plot Update
Posted on 15 February 2025
All of the willow at Chester Hope has now been cut. The image shows Barbara Harrington watching Jane Cheadle and Lynda Bull cutting the last of the Brittany Green rods. The Endurance willow in the shelter belt has also been harvested. Further work a
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New Workshops added to NBG website
Posted on 13 February 2025
Several new workshops have been added to the website in the past few days. They include such diverse subjects as a Seabird Sculpture Weekend on Lindisfarne and several workshops tutored by Karla Pearce, including a Catalan Tray workshop. Check the de
Read OnLatest NBG Workshops
Posted on 08 February 2025
Recent additions to the website have included information about a Sampler Log Basket workshop, a Beginner workshop, and advanced notice about a workshop with Tim Johnson in the summer.
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March Square Basket Workshop - Bowden
Posted on 04 February 2025
A few places remain on the 2-day Square Basket course with Charlotte Lobb, which will be held on Saturday, the 8th and Sunday, the 9th of March, from 10 am to 4 pm at Bowden Village Hall, Bowden TD6 0SS, near Melrose Scottish Borders. This workshop i
Read OnTwining Workshop - Exploring plant fibres and basketry with Anna Corbett
Posted on 22 January 2025
Anna is running a workshop in Bolton Village Hall in mid-February. If you would like further information about this weekend workshop please visit our website events page.
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Volunteering at Chester Hope Willow Plot Week Commencing 6th January 2025
Posted on 13 January 2025
The number of volunteers helping with the harvesting at Chester Hope this past week is a record. The eighteen volunteers included twelve members of the Cullercoats group who braved the icy conditions on Friday. Thank you to everyone who attended duri
Read OnHelping with the Willow harvesting at Craik Farm
Posted on 09 January 2025
We’re currently harvesting willow rods at Craik Farm. Sessions at the plot are usually held from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm, weather permitting. During January, we’ll be harvesting Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting on 17th January, wit
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Christmas Event at Enigma Interactive
Posted on 02 December 2024
For several years, Graham Barke, from Enigma Interactive in Newcastle, has bought 250 six-foot Bleu Bleu rods from Chester Hope in late November. This year, Graham has shared some images of the business's annual Christmas event, which involves a staf
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Christmas Willow Wreath Sessions at The Workshop Whitley Bay
Posted on 17 November 2024
Christmas Willow Wreath Get festive for Christmas! Handcraft your gorgeous willow hoop for your wreath and adorn it with sustainable natural sprigs, sprouts, and sprays. It's perfect for your front door or as a gift for a loved one. A glass of fizz
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Today's Sorted Rods at Chester Hope
Posted on 15 November 2024
Siobhan sorted some colourful rods at Chester Hope today. The photo shows rich, dark red-coloured Dogwood rods and Salix Alba from Tosson. The rods on the left are this season's Flanders Red.
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Wolsingham Show 8th September
Posted on 14 November 2024
Weardale Basketry Group attended the Wolsingham Show again this year. As always, it was an excellent event with plenty of interest from the public. Carol entered her Northumbrian Fishwife’s Back Creel in the Handicrafts competition and w
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Volunteers Needed
Posted on 07 November 2024
Northumbria Basketry Group members operate several plots for growing willow throughout our region, producing a wide variety of rods for use in self-help groups and personal use. At some sites, volunteers assist with the cutting, sorting, and bundling
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Christmas Tree Skirts
Posted on 22 October 2024
With the nights drawing in and the clocks about to go back, it will not be long before the Christmas season is here. Last weekend, members of the Bowden self-help group were busy making Christmas stars and innovative Christmas tree skirts. The tree
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Willow Zarzo Basket
Posted on 09 October 2024
Come and make a beautiful and unique Zarzo Basket. Originating from Spain, it is elegant, stylish, and functional. Traditionally used in cheese production, the design has been transformed to make a beautiful basket with many uses. Suitable for begin
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Plant Twisters - News of an Exciting Fibre Basketry Development from Anna Corbett
Posted on 07 October 2024
Plant Twisters – a fibre basketry network for Northumberland (and beyond!)In September, a group of fibre-loving basket-y people came together to talk about the possibility offorming a network. We chose the name Plant Twisters, and the aim is to
Read OnWillow Fair
Posted on 07 October 2024
Come to Gifford Village Hall, The Square, Gifford, E. Lothian EH41 4QJ on Saturday 26th of October. The Fair will be open from 10.30 to 17.00. Learn more about the ancient craft of willow basket weaving, willow sculpture, and cordage using plant fi
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Chester Hope Summer Picnic 2024
Posted on 19 August 2024
We enjoyed the picnic at the Willow plot yesterday. With guidance from Charlotte, we stripped willow rods for white and enjoyed a session with Lorraine, who tutored us on the Neolithic weave and did some essential plot maintenance. It was a busy aft
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Whitley Chapel Group - Hexham Abbey Festival
Posted on 03 August 2024
Hexham Abbey hosted the Northern Saints Flower Festival from July 26th to July 28th this year. Back in March, the WI asked if we would assist in producing a display based on Fenwick Lawson's "The Journey "of monks carrying Cuthbert's coffin to
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Cullercoats Self-Help Group Meeting Friday & Saturday 19th & 20th July
Posted on 01 August 2024
Everyone attending the Cullercoats Self-help group had a wonderful time this weekend learning Neolithic braiding with Sandra Scholes. We used 3-foot willow rods, including Norbury from the Chesterhope plot, which were lovely to weave with. Everyone l
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Finding Fibres 2024
Posted on 16 June 2024
Anna Corbett is running three short workshops exploring fibre plants for basketry in July, August, and September. Each workshop will focus on plants growing in wild and cultivated habitats, such as meadows, ponds, marshes, woodland, hedgerows, garde
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Picnic at the Tees Valley Willow Plot
Posted on 04 June 2024
On the 1st of June, the Tees Valley basketry group met at Thornton Grange Farm. Barbara, one of our members, gave a talk and brought some examples of willow and paper lanterns she had made with schoolchildren, for festivals, etc.* We then walked t
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Weaving the Landscape - Workshops and Talks
Posted on 29 May 2024
Anna Corbett is delighted to be supporting and taking part in this year's What a Wonderful World festival, a celebration and investigation into art, science and nature, taking place in Alnwick. Most of the festival events take place over the weekend
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Beautiful Baskets in the Harn Museum, Gainsville, Florida.
Posted on 23 May 2024
I am indebted to my good friend Tom Smith, who lives in Sky Valley, GA, and recently visited the University of Florida Harn Museum in Gainsville. Tom sent me the attached images, and after checking out the Museum's website, I discovered the fascinati
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Worshipful Company of Basketmakers' Trade Fair 2024
Posted on 17 April 2024
The invitation to the SBC to attend the 2024 Trade Fair in London was unfortunately late in going out to members due to a technical hitch with the email system. I had been invited by Dorothy Walker, this year’s Prime Warden, to demonstrat
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Chester Hope Willow Stocks 13th March 2024
Posted on 13 March 2024
Limited stocks of willow bundles from the 2023 growing season are still available for NBG members at Chester Hope. If you wish to purchase any of the bundles listed below, please contact me at info@northumbriabasketrygroup.co.uk Four Foot – 7
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Beginners' Basket Two-Day Workshop in Whitley Bay - 3rd and 4th of April
Posted on 11 March 2024
Join Lorraine to learn to weave a round basket at The Workshop, Whitley Road, Whitley Bay. The price of £90 per person includes all tools, materials, tea, coffee, and biscuits. Please get in touch with Lorraine to book or for further information.
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Zarzo Basket Workshop
Posted on 02 March 2024
Justine Holdsworth and Lorraine Griffiths, members of the Cullercoats group, are running two Zarzo basket workshops in Whitley Bay on the 8th and 9th of this month. This stunning basket is perfect to use for picnics, shopping, or carrying/displaying
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End of the Willow Harvesting Season at Chester Hope
Posted on 21 February 2024
Arriving at the Chester Hope willow plot just after lunch, Siobhan and I were greeted by squally showers and strong gusts of wind. Fortunately, the weather improved during the afternoon, and in four hours, we had completed the cutting and sorting of
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Harvesting Colourful Willow at Chester Hope
Posted on 17 February 2024
The final two Salix Purpurea varieties to be cut and sorted at Chester Hope this season are Packing Twine and Brittany Green. The rods provide a delightful contrast in colour. The Packing Twine rods are bright green with a lovely sheen when freshly c
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Pockets and Pouches Workshop with Anna Corbett
Posted on 11 February 2024
People worldwide have been weaving and twining vegetable fibres and materials for thousands of years, creating beautiful and valuable baskets and containers from a myriad of fibres. Some of these fibres are hiding in our gardens and hedgerows. There
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The First 2024 Beginners' Basketry Workshop at Bowden
Posted on 23 January 2024
The first 2024 Beginners' Basketry Workshop was held at Bowden Village Hall on January 20th and 21st. Karla Pearce was the workshop tutor, and six beginners attended the class. The images show Karla demonstrating techniques to members of the course.
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Chester Hope Willow Sales
Posted on 16 January 2024
Bundles of the following varieties of willow are now available for purchase and collection from Chester Hope; Bleu Bleu, Dicky Meadows, Calliantha, Flanders Red, Green Dicks, and Norbury. It is anticipated that the following varieties will be avail
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Twist - Twine - Loop
Posted on 12 December 2023
We are introducing a new exciting series of workshops with Anna Corbett at Bolton Village Hall in early 2024. The venue is west of Alnwick, not far from the A697 Wooler to Morpeth Road. There are three workshops in the series, starting with the first
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Willow Harvesting at Chester Hope
Posted on 17 November 2023
Siobhan, Jane and I made short work of sorting the Bleu Bleu in the fine weather today and started cutting the Dicky Meadows. As you can see in the attached image, we have an impressive willow crop this year. The second image shows the range of sorte
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Willow Christmas Angels Workshops
Posted on 03 November 2023
From the Hexham courant September 20th '23:With the approach of longer nights, the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme has prepared an exciting line-up of live events across Northumberland and Cumbria. Including 'Creative Highlights' events for the first
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A New Basketry Group Training Venue
Posted on 30 October 2023
The latest two-day Beginners' Shopping Basket workshop was held at Ravenstonedale Community and Heritage Centre in the Eden Valley over the weekend of the 28th/29th of October. This venue is the furthest west of any location in England for teaching b
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Hand Broom Workshop run by Rolf Hoss at Cullercoats
Posted on 23 October 2023
Two one-day workshops took place alongside the self-help group meetings at Cullercoats to make hand brooms. The brooms are functional, decorative, and fun to make. Everyone involved on each day left with brooms to be proud of. Rolf's first experie
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Two-Day Beginners' Basketry Workshop (Weekday) - Basket 1
Posted on 27 September 2023
One place is available on this beginners' workshop tutored by Charlotte Lobb at Willowdene House, Longframlington. The dates for the workshop are the 9th and 10th of October. This is an excellent opportunity to learn the basic skills involved in maki
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Irish Skib Basket One Day Course Thursday 28th September
Posted on 20 September 2023
There is an opportunity to attend this one-day workshop organised by Elaine at Stainmore Village Hall. The class will be tutored by Jean Tinsley and is suitable for both beginners and improvers. There will be a maximum of eight participants, and the
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Picnic at the Plot
Posted on 22 August 2023
I went to the summer picnic at the Chesterhope Willow plot on Sunday. It was a lovely sunny afternoon, perfect conditions to spend a few hours meeting and chatting with other basketry enthusiasts, sharing delicious food, and learning new willowy thin
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A Weekend on Lindisfarne
Posted on 17 August 2023
You are invited by Anne Otley of Lucker and Bamburgh Weavers and tutor Anna Turnbull of Biteabout Arts to a quiet weekend of willow weaving on Holy Island, off the Northumbrian Coast. If you would like more information about this event, please click
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Beginner Workshops at Whitley Chapel
Posted on 07 August 2023
On the 8th and 20th of July, the Whitley Chapel Basketry Group ran two very successful one-day beginner workshops making a traditional potato skib. The workshops, held in the village hall, were attended by thirteen people over the two days. In the mo
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Border Union Agricultural Show, Kelso Friday 28th & Saturday 29th July 2023
Posted on 02 August 2023
The Northumbria Basketry Group stall at BUAS displayed the skill and diversity of the work done within our group. It was staffed by enthusiastic members, happy to chat with visitors about NBG and basketry in general. We also offered have-a-go oppo
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Finding Fibres Workshop with Anna Corbett II
Posted on 23 July 2023
This exciting workshop is scheduled for September when there is an abundance of plants suitable for foraging for plant fibres. Anna is a specialist in weaving with locally available plant fibres, and she will help identify and process a variety of pl
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Northumbrian Fishwife's Creel Workshop - November 2022
Posted on 06 January 2023
Elaine Blackett-Ord has written an excellent article about the workshop tutored by Anna Turnbull, held on Lindisfarne in November 2022. The workshop was organised by Anne Otley, who I am delighted to report is now Co-Chair of the national Basketmake
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Nourish Exhibition
Posted on 20 August 2022
The Crafts Centre, Farnham, Surrey, is hosting the exhibition from the 9th of August until the 29th of October. Three of our members, Anna Liebmann, Anna Turnbull and Ruth Thompson, are among sixteen full-time professional willow basket makers, arti
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Sophia Sturge
Posted on 16 February 2022
For basketry group members who have travelled to Connemara to attend workshops with Joe Hogan and indulge in such noteworthy pleasures as seaweed baths at Leenane, this book adds a delightful chapter about the development of basketry in the area. Wr
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Website Home Page Updates
Posted on 22 August 2021
Our basketry group website homepage now has an improved format. It is now easier to find information about joining self-help groups, purchasing willow rods, attending basketry classes, and making commissions for baskets and other articles made by gr
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Borders Group Picnic
Posted on 15 August 2021
Despite an unpromising forecast, the weather held for a visit to David and Tamsin's willow plot at Craig in the Borthwick Valley on the 7th of August. Nine Northumbria Basketry Group members enjoyed the visit, and it was good to catch up after
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Willow Work Holidays
Posted on 04 August 2021
Please check out the What's On section of the website for information about an Autumn willow work holiday.
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Whitley Chapel Picnic
Posted on 31 July 2021
Daphne Turner has created this delightful ceiling-hung flower arrangement following her visit to the picnic event at Whitley Chapel. Daphne recently joined the Cullercoats group, and it was her first visit to Whitley Chapel. After a tour of the wil
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The Gritlin Basket
Posted on 12 July 2021
The photos show a cran, much larger than the quarter cran measure - four times larger - we are familiar with from seaside postcards and which many of us have learned from Colin Manthorpe. It is used to hold a great line, cork around the rim to protec
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Basket Making Back in Coquetdale
Posted on 19 May 2021
We can report several firsts today, the first NBG session back running after lockdown, the first basketry day in the refurbished Hepple village hall and the first basket for Jeanette. Nine of us met together, doors open for ventilation, willow outsi
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Willow Handbags and Shoulder Bags
Posted on 11 May 2021
An opportunity to enjoy creating willow handbags and shoulder bags with Anna in early June. See the what's on section for further information.
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A Stunning Willow Sculpture
Posted on 10 May 2021
This striking willow sculpture made by Anna Turnbull is for a client with echoes of his granddaughters and also his profession - bookbinding . Anna started with drawings, measurements and then a metal skeleton made by her husband, Richard. The sequ
Read OnSelf Help Group Meetings - Coquetdale
Posted on 14 April 2021
Coquetdale group are poised to resume self-help sessions next month! See the website "what's on" for details.
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Sales of Willow Cuttings
Posted on 19 February 2021
The group has sold 312 cuttings to a customer in Bratislava, Slovakia, this month. They arrived in perfect condition, as can be seen in the attached photograph. Varieties were Norbury, Packing Twine, Bleu Bleu, Brittany Green, Calliantha, and Dicky
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Willow Harvesting at Chester Hope Complete
Posted on 02 February 2021
I am delighted to report that willow cutting operations at the new plot at Chester Hope were completed for the 2020/2021 season yesterday. Work did not start in earnest until early January, and it is quite an achievement to have completed the harve
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Northumbria Basketry Group Self-Help Groups
Posted on 01 January 2021
If you wish to attend a self-help meeting, please note that there is generally a pattern of times in the month when groups meet. Exceptions to the practice are December and the summer holiday period. (Check the What's-On section for details) We
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News from Coquetdale Group
Posted on 18 September 2020
Hello Basketeers, here's what Coquetdale basketmakers have produced at their re-start meeting. We were all geared up for a Covid restart in a different hall, while the Hepple hall gets a new roof. Willow was already soaking when the rule of six
Read OnCoquetdale Group (formerly Hepple)
Posted on 03 September 2020
Next meeting of the group is scheduled for Wednesday 16th of September. The venue is Harbottle village hall, to be found above the surgery in Harbottle. (Hepple village hall is being re-roofed) The surgery is located in the main street as you enter
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Willow Plot Update
Posted on 11 August 2020
The contract for the willow plot land at Whittondean ran out at the end of July. A new plot has been commissioned and is up and running at Chester Hope. This plot is located close to Ryehill up the Coquet Valley from Rothbury. Following the removal
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Coffin Workshop
Posted on 30 June 2020
Why run a coffin workshop? Willow coffins tick all the boxes, aesthetically pleasing sustainable materials, low carbon footprint on delivery miles within the UK, all-round environmentally friendly, particularly so if lined with felted wool. Even bett
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Laundry basket
Posted on 24 February 2020
Anna is running a two day course in Lucker Saturday and Sunday 21/22 March to make a laundry basket as featured in Jenny Crisps new book. We will learn how to work from a square base frame to a round topped basket. The frames will be provided but A
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Weekend of Basketry with Mandy Coates & Rosie Farey
Posted on 30 January 2020
There are a few places still available for this workshop that is taking place in March. Please check out the "what's on" section of the website for further details.
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Coppicing Biomass at Whitley Chapel
Posted on 25 January 2020
Whitley Chapel group have invited the Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Green Woodworkers to help with coppicing the biomass at Whitley Chapel next Sunday the second of February. If you would like to join in the activity, you will be most welcom
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Happy New Year
Posted on 09 January 2020
This year our group is off to a flying start with a busier workshop programme than ever before. From making a vegetable hod to learning how to do invisible stitching, the choice is vast. This year for the first time the group are running a coffin ma
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Two days at Lucker with Eddie Glew
Posted on 02 December 2019
Lucker and Bamburgh Willow Weavers are pleased to invite you to a two day basketmaking course with Eddie Glew. 1st/2nd February 2020 At Lucker Making this Vegetable Hod Through weaving this basket we will learn how to leave a gap in a basket and
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Willow Storage Shelter on Site Chesterhope
Posted on 03 October 2019
The willow storage shelter was moved from Whittondean to Chesterhope yesterday. The loading and unloading were kindly carried out by Derek Milburn from Holling Hill. Our thanks to Derek for helping out. Photographs show Derek tying down the shelter
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Bark at Lucker
Posted on 03 May 2019
Maggie Smith, the artist who works in bark , is returning to Northumberland this Summer. She has kindly offered us a two day advanced workshop this time which will give us more time to develop our work and also learn to prepare the bark ourselves. So
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A Walk Around the Lindisfarne Sculpture Trail
Posted on 26 June 2018
The Peregrini Lindisfarne Partnership willow sculptures are now all back out for the summer. Yesterday evening Etal Group had their walk around the trail. It was a perfect evening, spectacular sunshine, lots of wildlife and a delicious picnic on the
Read OnBasketry, Willow Sculpture and Felt-Making
Posted on 11 June 2018
The June/July Issue of the Northumbrian features an article about Anna Turnbull and her work with willow and felt. Written by Susan Burke it tracks Anna's progression from her early days of studying fine arts at Camberwell School of Arts and Cra
Read OnChanges to Newton and Whitley Chapel Group
Posted on 26 April 2018
The last meeting at Newton Community Hall took place yesterday, with 14 people in attendance making a range of baskets, peony supports and trugs. The group will relocate to Whitley Chapel with effect from May, with the May, June and July meetings be
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Lindisfarne Nature Trail Sculptures Walk
Posted on 01 August 2017
Yesterday evening a group of 20 people attended the inaugural walk to view the willow sculptures located at various points on the Island nature trail. The walk was led by Andrew Craggs, Reserve Manager Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. (Natural En
Read OnHow to Make a Willow Sphere
Posted on 02 April 2015
Look up the Gallery Section of the website to see Ruth's images showing how to make a willow sphere.
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