February 2011 Workday

Message from Ron

"Hi Everyone,


I hope to see you on our next workday which is 6th February. We will be working on the hazel coppice in Robert Leech's field, off Waterloo Road. We will meet, as usual, at the car park at 9.00am and then walk down to the site. Colin and Sarah will not be with us and we will be working without a ranger. Christine Redstone from Alsager should be with us mid-morning to collect the coppiced hazel. Hope you can make it.

Regards,

Ron."

Visit to Redstone Willows in Alsager

Examples of willow work at the Redstone Willows centre in Alsager, in a range of different coloured varieties.  Haslington Conservation Volunteers have planted and maintained a hazel copse in Haslington - we were very pleased to find an outlet for our cut hazels in Redstone Willows.  

The examaple of willow weaving chosen for us was a Christmas bell.  Take a wooden base and insert 6 similar sized lengths of willow in a circle.  Start the weaving process - over one and past the next.  The rate of incline is adjusted by the alignment of the active strand, as the work spirals upwards.

At all times ensure that you do not knock your mug of coffee off the worktable.

Use of the bodkin to finish off the loop on top of the
bell.

By adjusting the size and number of loops on the top a winged Christmas angel can be formed.

Preparing for the top loop to be added to the bell.A very personal example.

Rare photo of the blog author.