Create your very own willow basket. We take you through the entire basket weaving process from how to harvest your willow to how to care for your basket.
All of our courses are available as 24month gift vouchers which can be purchased here.
Timings: 9.30-5pm
Age: 14 and over under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult.
Location: South London Woods – CR3. Our South Wales Woodland, in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park can also be booked for private courses.
Course size: 8 Maximum
Join us to learn how to make a traditional willow basket. On our basket weaving course we will teach you all the steps to making your very own stake and stand wicker basket, as well as discuss willow harvesting, basket after care, and look at alternative materials that can be used in basket making.
As well as expert tuition from our instructors, and all the necessary equipment, we will provide a warm and friendly atmosphere to delve into this wonderful ancient craft.
During this course we will guide you how to make a small waste paper style basket. The skills you learn on our course will enable you to scale this up or down and change the base materials, giving you countless possibilities for the future. To whet your appetite for future projects we will have a display of willow baskets and ones made from other materials covering a range of traditional, modern contemporary, artistic and functional baskets. Some of these are made by our instructor team and others by local crafts people.
Wicker Basketry and basket weaving is an age old practice, used in a range of contexts across a huge time span. Its careful craft is being lost, so join us, to learn this ancient craft and keep the knowledge alive.
This course is run out of our South London Woodland, just 15 minutes off junction 8 of the M25 and easily accessible by train too. Read more about our woods here.
Want to take it further? We also run a progressive basket weaving course covering 4 different styles of basket and platter that runs over 6 weeks.
Clifton Wan –
Thanks to Lizzy’s very patient and clear instruction, I was actually able to weave a basket from scratch! Very proud of my creation especially having never done anything like it before. The group was very friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed the course. Would definitely recommend.
Karen M. –
What a wonderful and patient teacher Lizzyis! Thoroughly enjoyed my day being taught a new skill and came home with a basket to be proud of 🧺
Mandy C. –
A lovely day weaving our very own basket. Lizzy taught us with all her skill and expertise.
Janet P –
Just had a brilliant day making a willow basket under the knowledgeable and patient tuition of Lizzy.
Alice O. –
As the London skyline disappears and we descend into the countryside, it seems we could also be stepping back in time. With Lizzy’s instruction, our hands remembered how to tame unwieldy willow into woven baskets. The day flew by in the welcome shade as our baskets found their shapes, and our calm concentration was accompanied by convivial conversation.
A truly brilliant experience, with precise, clear and friendly teaching taking into account a variety of learning styles and abilities. Lizzy’s passion is infectious and her knowledge of nature and wild crafts is inspiring – thank you!
Danielle M –
Recently did the basket weaving course. The course was great really lovely experience all round. The site was well thought out and content really delivered all I could have need from it. Came away with a lovely willow basket and skills to share with my kids. Lizzy is a lovely lady with lot and lots of knowledge. All round an absolute winner.
Risa K –
We just spent a lovely day basket weaving with Lizzy in her beautiful private woodland! The setting was magical as we were lucky enough to be surrounded by a carpet of bluebells. Lizzy was a brilliant host and teacher and was very knowledgeable about the wild life and plants around us. We both came away with two lovely (but slightly wonky) baskets that are already bringing joy to our home. We would definitely recommend you try out one of Lizzy’s courses (which are really conveniently located within striking distance of London)!
Danielle M –
Did Lizzy’s basket weaving course, had a great time, she’s a good teacher! If your considering doing a course I’d deffo recommend Pippin & Gile.
Aura P. –
Thanks to Lizzy and Luna the dog for a wonderful day weaving baskets. I actually can’t believe I made one! The woods are beautiful and the whole day was well thought through. Lizzy’s knowledge about bushcraft and woods was impressive and definitely has encouraged my further curiosity. I hope to come back sometime again. It was absolutely soul nourishing. All the very best to you!
Isobel –
I did the basket weaving day course with my mum and it was one of the best courses we’ve ever been on. The location was fantastic, in a very picturesque wood, Lizzy was incredibly knowledgeable and kind, and explained everything in a very straightforward and easy to understand way. We will be back again and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking to try out basket weaving.