Willow for Schools
Living willow structures and sculptures are very easy to make, and are a fun activity for children!
Schools can browse this site and online shop and simply email us requirements, we will invoice after delivery. We also offer service where we come to schools and work with the children to build structures, either standard ones or bespoke designs. Feel free to contact us for advice on designs or get a quote for bespoke offerings or for us to come and help with the buildings process.
Living Willow Structure Kits for Schools
Our living willow structure kits include:
- Sketches and photos of all stages of build.
- Detailed written instructions.
- Appropriate numbers & sizes of Willow rods for design.
- Weed suppressing membrane, heavy duty type that lets water through is ideal.
- Pegs to hold down membrane.
- String or gardening twine to tie in the willow weave.
(n.b. You may find you need a bar or metal stake to help create holes if the ground is hard, we do not provide these.)
You can find our range of willow structure kits and more in our Online Shop.
Willow Services for Schools
Willow Build Done for You
We can visit and build willow structures for you or spend the day working with the children helping them to build the structures themselves. I we do the build we can involve the children by having them come out in groups and observe and ask questions.
Willow Maintenance Contracts
We offer a maintenance service for your willow structures, this includes two visits per year, a late summer visit and a winter visit. The summer one will be to trim to ensure thicker growth lower down in structure and re weave and tie any problem areas, also to treat and fix any insect problems. The winter one will be to cut right back to ideal (usually original) structure and re tie and fix/weave any problem areas. This includes tidying site after work completed.
Bespoke Designs
The children can be involved by designing the structures themselves, designs can be drafted and sketches emailed to us to review and advise on. Once a design is agreed we can come and work with the children to build the structure.
Using Willow in Class
The offcut willow from annual maintenance is a fantastic material to use in class for a whole range of activities like making Christmas decorations or weaving simple containers.
Christmas wreaths are very popular and relatively easy to make, the children enjoy making and decorating these. Another option is to make small willow sculptures on wire frames.
The offcuts can also be used to make more smaller living structures, we can email you ideas for these and instructions on how best to build them.
If you school has a garden area the willow offcuts can also be used to make plant of vegetable supports, or even frames for plastic cloches.
Some schools we supply also use the willow to make the school Christmas tree.