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Hertfordshire Basketry

Visit to see Pushing The Boundaries exhibition at The Hub, Sleaford - 14 February 2008

Some members of the Group travelled to Lincolnshire to see an Exhibition of work by the Scottish Basket Makers Circle called "Pushing the Boundaries". The exhibition was thought to be well worth the visit and really inspiring.

Visit to Rothamsted - 2 February 2007

    On a beautiful sunny day in February twelve members of Herts Basketry met at Rothamsted Research in Harpenden. We were there to see the national willow collection.  We had a guided tour of the collection and marvelled at row upon row of tall willow wands our guide had grown from seed in shallow trays and selected for a variety of characteristics, in particular resistance to rust.
    We were too late to see the willow crop as it had been cut and chipped for biomass a few days earlier but we were just in time to see the national collection of over 140 different species of willow growing in another part of the estate. The mild weather had brought many of the willows into flower and some leaves were opening. As far as the eye could see there were willow rods of all colours, greens, reds, oranges, with pollen covered catkins, brilliant against the clear blue sky. Every plant was labelled and members set off at once with note pads to write down details of those they liked while dreaming of the wonderful baskets they might make from such beautiful willow. It was a shock to wake from the dream and be told that in three days the whole collection would be cut down by machine and shredded.
    Lunch at the local pub brought us back to the real world.

The Group visited Waveney Rush to see how they made their plaited rush matting and baskets. The workshop is upstairs in a boat house and the rush is stored underneath. They have six employees so it is very small scale but with a large output (see their website for details of their products).  In the afternoon the Group paid a visit to Terry Bensley, a willow basketmaker who many of the Group saw at the Basketmaker's Association open day at Sutton Hoo in Summer 2005. Terry lives in Gorleston, which is about 10 miles up the coast from Waveney rush. He was happy for the Group to visit him, although he warned us that he has a VERY small workshop.

The rush matting once it has been sewn together.	Plaiting the rush.
The group touching the plaits and asking questions.	Terry starting the square-work base.
Terry admires his finished basket.	The group with Terry outside his workshop.

The Group visited the Nene Park willow beds near Peterborough and were taken on a tour of the beds by Terry Daunt, one of the rangers. The day was very enjoyable and luckily the rain held off!

First look at the withie beds	Terry Daunt talking about pollarded willows
Harvesting the willow	The willow stock once the withies have been cut.