Willow Weaving - Birds

Jess Wilkinson Willow is running a willow weaving masterclass at Goose Beck Vineyard on Saturday 12 September, a one-day workshop where you'll spend the day weaving a willow bird. It's open to all abilities, so you don't need any prior experience to join in.

The session starts with the basics: you'll learn simple weaving techniques in a relaxed, creative setting. From there, you'll build a frame and work out the details—the head, beak, legs, wings, and feet—all using natural willow fibres. You get to choose which bird you want to make, whether that's a curlew, a chicken, or a goose, so you'll leave with something you've had a hand in deciding from the start.

It's as much about the company as the craft. The organiser notes that plenty of people come along on their own and end up making friends with like-minded folk over the course of the day, so it's a fine one to book even if you haven't got a partner to bring. All the materials you'll need are included, along with tea and coffee throughout the day, a ploughman's style lunch, and a complementary glass of wine.

The venue is Goose Beck Vineyard, a new family-run vineyard and winery just outside York at Bilton Grange, Tockwith Lane, Bilton-in-Ainsty, YO26 7NZ. It opens in 2026 with a vineyard and a tasting room on site, and there's free parking and toilets available. The workshop runs on 12 September, and the full day's welcome—materials, lunch, and a glass of wine—is all part of the booking.