Willow Weaving – Making A Christmas Garland Workshop

Ashton Walled Community Garden is hosting a willow weaving workshop on Saturday 14 November, and it's a free one. It's a Mini Make session, which means you're there to make one thing rather than spend the whole day on a massive project. You can choose between a willow heart, a bird, or a star to take home and hang wherever you like.

There are two ways to do it: you can get stuck in and learn the basics of willow weaving yourself, or you can just watch a demonstration from the craft team and see how it's done. The organiser works with one person at a time, and they're quite honest about the process — they say the work can be tricky and they'd rather not poke anyone with the willow rods, so if you're not the one currently weaving, you can watch and learn while you wait your turn.

The workshop is part of the Longton Country Market Day, which fills the morning with stalls and activities, so it's more of a day out than a standalone class. You can wander the market and then drop in for a bit of making. It's free to take part, and you'll leave with a handmade willow ornament for your home.