Willow courses

As well as my own courses at my workshop in Froghall Wharf or at Foxt Village Hall, I teach at The Gardeners Bothy, Staunton Harold, Greenwood Days and Zantium Arts. Courses are marked as suitable for three levels, please read carefully before booking. Materials, drinks and biscuits are included. Booking is essential as places are limited to ensure sufficient tuition for each student. 

Please bear in mind that basketmaking is very hard on the hands. If you suffer from hand, wrist, finger or shoulder problems it may not be the course for you.

​

More new courses will be added through the year.  To book onto courses, see the details below (read carefully as some are not suitable for beginners) then please head to my shop, select the right course and book on and pay on the shop page. If its not on the shop yet, just ping me an email wheatcroftwillow@googlemail.com

Voucher holders please email me and I will book you on. See below for cancellation policy.

​

Experience levels for courses – If you are not sure just email and I can help you choose a suitable course.

Level 1 – complete beginner – Not done any basketry before or just made a few simple willow items.

Level 2 – Improvers and intermediate – Students who have been on at least a couple of basketry courses and feel like they know the basics well. These courses are for reinforcing skills already learnt and improving, as well as adding new skills and techniques. There will be a some element of flexibility in weaves etc to enable you to learn more.

 These courses will be more challenging than a beginners course and will require hand strength and dexterity.

Level 3 – Intermediates to advanced – Students who have been on many courses and are making baskets independently. New skills can be learnt and old ones reinforced and we can be more flexible in the techniques covered to assist your learning. These courses are to challenge you!

​

Willow basket courses June to October 2026 -

Book and pay on the shop page

 

Make a small frame basket –  

 Wood and willow workshop Froghall Wharf ST10 2HJ.

 Friday 3rd July – 9.30-5 ish £90

Using pre-made hoops you can make a small, round frame basket.

 We will learn how to split and dress ribs using a knife and attach them to a hoop. Then we weave the basket with willow, creating a curved, small, shallow frame basket, nice for fruit on the table.

 

​

Round shopping basket with a handle – 2 days -  level 1 and 2

Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July 2026. 9.30 – 4.30 cost £200

A two-day willow basketry workshop where you’ll create a sturdy, practical round shopping or foraging basket, complete with a beautifully wrapped handle, using vibrant, home-grown colourful willows. This course is designed for both beginners and improvers, offering the perfect opportunity to develop your skills while creating a beautiful, functional basket that you can use every day. Level 2 students can play with weaves and try a new handle wrap.

​

Beginners Basketmaking - Fruit bowl or plant basket course

Level 1 and 2 - 

Friday 14th August 9.30 - 5

This one day course will guide you through the process of making a shallow tray style basket or a taller fruit basket to hold and carry bread, fruit etc.

You will learn how to make a round base, choose stakes and stake up, then learn different weaves to make the main body of the basket and then weave a border at the top to hold it all together.

You will be using home grown, colourful willows from my willow bed and some Somerset willow.

 

Processing hazel in the Woods – taster day

Level 1, 2 and 3 

Wednesday 16th September- £120

Join Rachel Evans for a hands-on, one day course set in a beautiful woodland setting. The sounds and smells of the autumn woodland in the Churnet valley will inspire your creativity and you'll learn the craft of hazel basketry.

Hazel basketry is a less well known basketry technique than willow basketry. It is listed on the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts.

We will begin with a short walk to explore and select suitable hazel rods, learning how to identify, harvest, and prepare the material.

Using beautiful hazel coppiced by Rachel in advance and a few hazel rods cut in the morning during our walk you will be taught traditional methods for processing hazel – removing splints, dressing with a knife and splitting and bending and shaping the hazel to make hoops and ribs. We will prepare splints and ribs and using premade hoops you will make a shallow tray. You will be guided step-by-step through the process. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, you'll come away with a  deeper connection to the woodland, and the skills to continue weaving with hazel.

​

Willow handbag creel - 3 day advanced course - £300 plus £20 for leatherwork strap

September 22nd, 23rd and 24th September 9.30 til 4.30 

Wood and Willow Workshop, Froghall Wharf, ST10 2HJ

Level 3 course

For advanced students only. Really work on those skills and make these beautiful creel style bags. Using frame basket techniques we will create this creel bag basket. Learn how to shape the ribs, creating a curvy shape to our basket. We will cover frame basket weaving techniques, packing and filling in the basket, weaving around corners and tips to make sure the willow is pliable enough to  bend around this challenging shape. We will then make the framework for a lid, setting it to dry overnight. Then weave the lid and attach using cranked ties and add a catch fastener. Add leather straps and you have a perfect bag for foraging and carrying all your treasures. 

Bookings by email only wheatcroftwillow@googlemail.com

​

Make an Ose basket. 

March 19th and 20th 2027 9.30 – 4.30 - £210 

Wood and Willow Workshop , Froghall Wharf ST10 2HJ 

Level 2 and 3

This ancient design of frame basket was developed and used by the basket makers in the Western Scottish Highlands and Islands for many years.

Its old use was for carrying a broody hen from one croft to another hence its alternative name, the hen basket. Ose comes from osier or willow.

You will join pre-made and dried hoops by weaving with beautiful and colourful Staffordshire and Somerset willow to create this style of basket.

Using frame basket techniques, you will shape and add ribs as you weave and control the shape to make a beautifully curvy Ose basket.

Suitable for beginners with guidance, but improvers will love this basket, especially if they are interested in improving their frame basket techniques.

I’ll provide drinks and delicious biscuits throughout the day, and if you have any dietary preferences or restrictions (such as dairy-free or gluten-free), please let me know in advance so I can accommodate you. Please bring along your own lunch. Contact me to book this course wheatcroftwillow@googlemail.com

​​

Progressive teaching programme

If you want to take your basketmaking further then more structured learning can be arranged with me in my workshop. We can cover materials preparation and selection and well as the techniques to make whatever baskets style you wish, working progressively towards set goals and building on your skills.

One to one tuition £200 per day in my workshop plus materials. Two people £275. Contact me to book or book and pay on the shop page. 

​​

Courses at other venues I teach at

Zantium Arts - https://www.zantium.co.uk/

Greenwood Days - https://greenwooddays.co.uk/

​​

​Course cancellation policy

If you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible.

If you cancel more than 4 weeks before the course, your fee can be refunded minus a £25 cancellation fee.

Less than 4 weeks and I cannot offer a refund, although if I can fill your place, you may transfer your course to another course of similar value later in the year.

Less than 7 days and unfortunately I cannot offer refunds. Course fees are non-refundable. No refunds can be made to those who fail to attend a course in full or in part.

You may send someone in your place, in which case we will need their contact details in advance

​​