Teaching
Learn traditional willow weaving skills, in a relaxed atmosphere amongst lovely surroundings
You can learn how to make your own beautiful baskets, plant supports, lanterns, sculpture and more from English willow, the majority of which is organic and grown locally by me.
Full details of upcoming willow workshops can be found on our events page.
We also run bespoke one and two day workshops, which you can arrange for a date to suit you, covering many aspects of willow weaving and basketmaking. Courses can be tailored for beginners, improvers and advanced students.
Workshops are run from our lovely 16th Century home, situated in Rural Cambridgeshire. Accommodation is available. Find out more about the rooms here.
Willow workshops
If you're looking to book an individual place on an existing workshop then click below to see what's available
Organise your bespoke workshop now
Contact us here to organise your bespoke workshop, and feel free to take a look at our price list to give you an idea of what we offer and how much it will cost.
Testimonials
"I meant to write earlier to thank you for such a fantastic day in September making baskets. It was fantastic. Teaching was perfect, allowing time for assimilation, allowing people to make mistakes without ever feeling that it was a problem, creating an atmosphere that allowed people to chat/ feel welcome/ ask questions. The lunch was completely delicious. And it gives you a huge appreciation for willow and wood and hand made items. Thank you"
"Thank you for a wonderful day on Friday, I look at my basket and cannot believe I made it!!!
We all agreed it was a great day and your teaching skills and patience are amazing. The lunch was gorgeous and the company perfect.
We are keen to come again so will look out for suitable courses.
Thank you"
"Thank you for such an enjoyable and informative day today. I really enjoyed it, and loved bringing home and positioning my plant support and hanging basket to see what they looked like in my own garden - they do not disappoint!
It was a wonderful day, with good company and good food in lovely surroundings, and it has inspired me on to more - I'll be back!"
"Debbie, I just wanted to thank you for a really enjoyable day on Saturday. You created a very welcoming and informal atmosphere, and it was such a lovely setting to work in. I think you struck a really good balance between teaching / instruction, and allowing people time and space to discover the medium for themselves. The food was delicious, and very generous."
"I love baskets and always wanted to make one so was very pleased to secure the remaining place on the two day stake and strand basketry course during the last weekend in October 2019. As a complete beginner, I went full of hope and although encouraged by Debbie's basketry skill and reputation as a great teacher, I doubted my ability to take it all in. I need not have worried and I was absolutely amazed by what I was able to achieve in just two days with expert tuition. I am now the proud owner of a very beautiful basket that is widely admired whenever I take it shopping. Not only that, the whole weekend was a complete joy. Debbie and the other students on the course were wonderful people and great company; the food and hospitality provided by Debbie during the course were fantastic. The setting at Blacksmith's cottage is indeed beautiful and tranquil. Definitely worth every penny and I cannot wait to go again with a group of friends as I now know this is also possible to arrange. So glad I went. Such a treat..."
