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 beginners or intermediates, materials, drinks and biscuits are included. Booking is essential as places are limited to 8 to ensure sufficient tuition time. Vouchers can be used on the courses that are starred.

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.

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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.

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Willow basket courses Autumn winter 2025 

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Learn the skills of hazel basketry in the woods - gathering and processing materials. - One day taster
Dates - Thursday 9th October 10-4.30
Location: Froghall Wharf, Staffordshire Moorlands.
Cost: £120
This one day course is a practical guide to gathering and processing hazel.  Hazel basketry is a less well known basketry technique than willow basketry. It is listed on the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts as only a small number of people in the country are making them.
We’ll begin with a look around the woods to explore and select suitable hazel rods, learning how to identify, harvest, and prepare the material with respect for the land and its cycles – and understand how seasonality and habitat influence its properties.

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 we will use these to make a small bowl. 
This day is suitable for beginners or experienced baskemakers and will give you the skills to continue weaving with hazel.
Please note it will be held outside, involces a short walk on very uneven ground and you will need good hand and body strength to participate.
To book see the shop page 

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Basketry for beginners and improvers*

Friday 24th October  9.30 – 5 ish. £90 Foxt Village Hall ST10 2HN,
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. Intermediate makers can try different weaves or borders to give their basket an individual touch.

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Underfoot round log baskets
Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd November  9.30 – 5, Foxt Village Hall, Staffordshire Moorlands, ST10 2HN. £220
Underfoot techniques are a lovely traditional way of making very strong baskets, ideal for a sturdy log basket.
It’s a physical process requiring the ability to bend over and work with the base of the basket upside down held under one or both feet. It can be done sitting or at a push on a table using heavy weights but the purists will want to work underfoot!
The baskets are strong and incorporate lots of time saving techniques. They were originally used as agricultural baskets and were the original weights and measures for fruit and veg, bushels and pecks. I was taught these techniques by Adrian Charlton about 15 years ago and these log baskets have become a best seller for me in the winter months.
On the course we will make one or two round underfoot bases, choose one and fill the base in with slewing and then a pair. We will then stake up, discussing different ways of staking up and leaving out a stake for an odd number. We will then add a 4 rod wale, dropping down to a 3 rod, then slew the basket up the sides. Wale again and then turn down a chunky 5 rod border. To finish it off we will practice cranking and then make beautiful roped handles.
Please note this is a VERY physically demanding course and not suitable for anyone who struggles with physical mobility and who has hand, arm or shoulder problems.

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Christmas willow courses
Enjoy a lovely, relaxed day creating gorgeous festive items made from natural materials. Using my own home grown willow, foraged hazel, berries, holly and ivy, you can craft the perfect natural Chriatmas for yourself . 
Dates available - Sunday 23rd November - 10 - 3.30 - £80
OR join me to make a couple of small Christmas decorations on the evening of Wednesday 3rd Dember, Foxt Village Hall 7-9 - £40

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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

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​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

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