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.
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Visit to Waveney Rush - 19 May 2006
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.
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| The rush matting once it has been
sewn together. |
Plaiting the rush. |
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| The group touching the plaits and
asking questions. |
Terry starting the square-work
base. |
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| Terry admires his finished basket. |
The group with Terry outside his
workshop. |
Visit to Nene Park Willow Beds - 17 March 2005
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!
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| First look at the withie beds |
Terry Daunt talking about
pollarded willows |
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| Harvesting the willow |
The willow stock once the withies
have been cut. |