Living Willow Chair

The Course

This workshop is for both beginners and those with some experience. Participants will work with a variety of coloured barked willows to create a living seat which will be taken home to plan in your garden. The weave will be a mixture of soaked and freshly coppiced willow from the tutor’s osier beds in West Sussex. Participants will creatively weave a number of traditional weave of colours at your own choice. There will be plenty of opportunity for people to discuss all aspects of willow, from traditional to contemporary, practical growing/coppicing, drying, storing, soaking, tools and techniques.

The Tutor

Elaine Kings works alongside Ganesh on living willow projects and willow craft/eco workshops in schools. She is a trained basketmaker and loves experimenting making useful and artistic items out of willow. She has a large involvement in the coppice management side of their willow business.

From a horticultural background and 4 years at sea Ganesh Kings travelled for 10 years working with community and refugee projects on the Indian sub-continent and teaching in Japan. On his return he became fully involved with ecological and environmental projects both in schools and the private sector. He has worked in various county, conservation wildlife and agricultural groups in West & East Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey and London. He is a local tree warden and is a published author in ecology and pilgrimage.

Either Elaine or Ganesh will tutor the course.

Participant Information

This workshop will be limited to 9 participants to ensure that everyone has sufficient individual attention. Please wear suitable warm clothing.

Please bring:

• a pen and notebook
• secateurs, Swiss-army style knife and string
• kneeling pad or old cushion and/or small stool or crate for sitting on whilst weaving

The course is quite physical, you will be using your hands to weave and you often need to kneel and stand.

Please note: as the chair is a fairly large structure, a largish car or estate car will be needed to transport it home. Please contact the Museum if this is a problem, as we may be able to arrange transport.

Fee & Refreshments

£120 per person, to include tuition, teas and coffees. Please let the Museum know in advance of any dietary requirements. The Museum café will be open or you can bring a packed lunch.