Friday, October 24, 2008

The Ravens at Manor House School, Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire.

These 3 handsome guys are called 'The Ravens'. They are the guardians commissioned by Ashby Arts Festival to overlook the Victorian Manor House School and the Ashby de la Zouch castle which was originally built as a manor house in the 12th century
The Ravens were woven using willow around a steel armature and now reside on oak plinths in their new historic home.



Sun God at Brocks Hill, Oadby, Leicestershire.

The crow here represents our very own native English Sun God Ra!
I carved his footprints into a delicious eight foot slab of seasoned oak, which was grown, felled, planked and rested on the Staunton Harold estate.


The footprints wind their way up this tasty slab of oak, on a journey to and past the willow 'sun' woven around a steel sphere nestled within the wood.
This handsome Leicestershire Sun God survived a rainy unveiling, but now casts a welcoming glow over Brocks Hill Park, Oadby and beyond.

Thomas 'Hare' in Market Bosworth



Sleepy Hollow at BBC Gardeners' World Live

For BBC Gardeners' World Live this year, I created this Sleepy Hollow inspired tree.

The tree finished and assembled down 'the yard'

Fully decorated in situ


RHS Wisley - Fruit, roots and seeds.

This year I got to add my own willow touch to RHS Wisley with this sliced apple, root system, maple seeds, mushrooms and pear tunnel, it was a busy summer!












Tresco and Bryer primary school on the Scilly Isles

My own eco-chopper, it runs on willow! ok, it doesn't, but my options were limited.


I was asked to add a little willow love to Tresco and Bryer's primary school:


and here are the finished results:




Outdoor classroom

Outdoor classroom from the opposite angle.

The inside (?) of the outdoor classroom, come one admit it, you wish you'd had one of these when you went to school don't you?!



A living tunnel, not too lively here, but when it gets going, what a beauty!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The tree seat at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2007

This ever popular 'tree seat', 'egg chair', 'tree swing' or whatever you care to call it, was installed for the BBC Gardeners' World Live 2007 at the NEC. The seat/swing/chair part of the installation is available to buy, please feel free to contact me for details if you're interested.

A den at Westonbirt Arboretum from 2007

A joyful little den for the punters to hide away in at Westonbirt Arboretum.

Large woven vessels at the Harley Gallery from 2006

These beauties reside at the Harley Gallery in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Mmm, curvy.


The world's biggest basket of flowers at Gardeners' World Live 2006

OK, I can't guarantee it's the world's biggest basket, but it was a whopper! Made especially for exhibiting at BBC Gardeners World Live 2006.


Cactus at BBC Gardeners' World Live NEC 2005

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Welcome...to my new Blog Spot.


Keep your eyes on this spot for tales woven from the sticks of the willow tree.