I’m delighted that this October we’ll be hosting a willow weaving workshop here at the farm as part of the Ballynahinch Festival of Hope - a whole series of local events celebrating World Mental Health Day.
Weaving is something that brings me great joy. I don’t worry about anything else when I’m making a basket. My hands are busy and my brain gets a rest from the usual thoughts of life. And I love making something functional and beautiful entirely from materials I’ve grown here on the farm. Connecting with nature through natural materials - and creating useful items that are entirely compostable, when they finally come to the end of their lives.
We’ll start the evening with a cup of tea, a biscuit and a chat about willow, discussing everything from growing and harvesting to the history of the craft. If the weather is fine and we’re all able, we’ll pop down to the “salley garden” (aka the willow patch) where you can see all colours of our heritage varieties we grow. Then we’ll head back to the Gallery to start our projects. We’ll all be making bird feeders of various sizes and shapes.
I’m looking forward to welcoming you and sharing the art of willow weaving—let’s make something wonderful together!
Here are the details:
The date and time: Thursday 2nd October 2025 6:30pm - 8:30 pm
The place: Laurelbank Farm, 121 Middle Road, Saintfield, Co. Down, BT24 7LS
The cost: Free. This event is part of the Ballynahinch Festival of Hope.
The refreshments: We’ll have an array of teas, herbal teas, coffee, and water on hand. If you’d like anything specific, feel free to bring it along! I’ll also be baking some biscuits, so please let me know of any dietary needs when you book, and I’ll do my best to accommodate.
What to bring: We’ll be weaving in the Gallery, which we’ll keep on the cool side to prevent the willow from drying out. To stay comfortable, bring plenty of layers and maybe even fingerless gloves to keep your hands warm while weaving.
Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel your booking, for whatever reason, please let us know as soon as possible as there may well be a waiting list.
