From Waste Skip to Pride of Place at The Alnwick Garden

The  Old Owl was taken down for the Light performance in the Alnwick Garden, and they put it into a skip. When Tracey from the Alnwick Elderberries (https://www.alnwickgarden.com/the-charity/community-programmes/elderberries/) spotted it.  I was attending a talk at the Elderberries when Tracey asked me if I could restore the Owl. She took me to the skip. It was all bent, and the willow was so brittle that it was falling off.

I said I would have a go at restoring it, but I couldn't guarantee anything.

I was going to use the Willow that Alan gave me in 2017 (Yellow Vitellina) and my red to make the pattern on the feathers, but it all had to be cut and graded. It took nearly 3 months from start to finish. I hope you all like it.

It is now sitting in the oldest Tree in The Alnwick Garden

Lots of photos attached.

Thanks to everyone who helped me in my Willow Class at Hepple and on Holy Island.

Sheila