Living willow structures or fences start with live cut rods or withies. Once inserted in the ground, they take root. Willow sculpture may use green wood but the rods are not planted, so the sculpture can be preserved if you want.
The Most Amazing Willow Tree Sculptures
Wicker Sculpture – Queen at Faulkland Palace, 2012.
by Trevor Leat of Scotland.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Wicker Sculpture – Family Circle
by Trevor Leat.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Wicker Sculpture – Pearl
by Trevor Leat.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Wicker Sculpture by Trevor Leat.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
The Siren’s Call
by Trevor Leat.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Wicker Sculpture by Trevor Leat.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Wicker Sculpture – Calgary Stag
by Trevor Leat.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Wicker Sculpture – Scone Stag by Trevor Leat.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Willow Alpaca. When delivered to its new home this life-sized willow sculpture of an alpaca caused much interest for the already resident alpaca herd. The willow sculpture has been treated with a linseed oil-based preservative. By Caroline Gregson, UK. www.carolinegregson.com
Life size Wicker Elephant, Glenkens, UK.
by Trevor Leat.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Willow Boar at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales created during a workshop for Welsh Basketmakers and other weavers as part of Basketmakers Associations Annual Summer Meeting, 2012. twistedhedge.blogspot.com
Willow Sculpture, UK
Image by Stephen Wilkinson
www.trekearth.com
Wicker Sculpture – Stagman, 2011.
by Trevor Leat and Alex Rigg.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Wicker Sculpture – Herne the Hunter
by Trevor Leat and Alex Rigg.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Willow Man, 12 metters tall,
Somerset, UK, by Serena de la Hey.
www.serenadelahey.com
Willow sculpture – Boris the Spider
in Pakenham, UK, artist unknown.
Image by Karen Roe, www.flickr.com
Willow Dragon
By Plas Helyg – Cassie and Nigel. Originally found at “https://www.plas-helyg.co.uk/t3/index.php?id=28”
Wicker Chicken by Tim Johnson
timjohnsonartist.com Originally found at “https://www.timjohnsonartist.com/sculpture/woodmill-play-area-bitterne-southampton-2011/”
Willow Hares high fivin, at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden Harlow Carr.
privetandconfidential.blogspot.com
Tom Hare’s Willow Hare.
www.tomhare.net
Willow sculpture at Hobbledown, Epsom, Surrey, 10 meters long, by Michelle Cain. The dried willow sculpture is of one of the characters from the Hobbledown book namely Rumple Tump the dragon thingy. twistedhedge.blogspot.com
Fox with Bango, Fox with Fiddle.
by Michelle Cain, Cambridge Folk Festival. Originally found at “https://www.michellecain.co.uk/sculptures.htm”
Streching Willow Angels
By Michelle Cain at the Secret Light Garden at Picton Castle, 2011. twistedhedge.blogspot.com
Feya by Joy Widdett Originally found at “www.thesculpturebarn.co.uk”
Twig Woman at an Art Fair in Holland.
yannatry.blogspot.com
Locally reclaimed willow branches and wire.
Stillness by Olga Ziemska, 69″ x 155″
www.olgaziemska.com
Stillness by Olga Ziemska
www.olgaziemska.com
Summer Palace by Patrick Dougherty, www.stickwork.net
Tom Hare Willow Sculpture
www.tomhare.net
Willow treehouse; part of a commission of play structures for children designed collaboratively with John Malkovich for his garden in Provence, France. Made with willow, hazel, mulberry, pine and rope, the tree houses are set in a walnut tree and two hazel bushes. The tree nest is 3 metres from top to bottom and is 3 metres off the ground. By Clare Wilks, currently of Brussels. Originally found at “www.clarewilks.co.uk/portfolio/garden.asp”
Living willow structure created in 1998 in Aeurstedt, Germany.
Weaving live saplings together to form a domed cathedral space, architect Marcel Kalberer and his group Sanfte Strukturen are re-envisioning the way living building materials and techniques can be used. Over ten years after its construction, it still serves as a home for impromptu gatherings and community celebrations. pithandvigor.com
Dreaming Spires Willow Playhouse
by Judith Needham, 2.4 meters wide, £2,000. Originally found at “judithneedham.co.uk/page2.htm”
Play Area by Tim Johnson, 2011.
Bitterne, Southhampton
Originally found at “www.timjohnsonartist.com/sculpture/woodmill-play-area-bitterne-southampton-2011/”
Living willow ship at Harlow Carr Gardens, UK.
Via: www.growsonyou.com
See a pic of the ship with greenery here: gardenerstips.co.uk
Wicker Sculpture – Viking Ship
by Trevor Leat.
www.trevorleat.co.uk
Fairy fungi ring at Kew Gardens by
Tom Hare Willow Sculpture.
www.tomhare.net
Lotus Seed – Kew Gardens
Tom Hare Willow Sculpture
www.tomhare.net
Nestling – Willow Sculpture – Winner of RHS Best Show Feature at BBC Gardeners World by Tom Hare. www.tomhare.net
Tom Hare Willow Sculpture
www.tomhare.net
Willow Birdfeeders
Originally found at “www.backwoodswillow.com/index_old.htm”
How To Maintain A Willow Sculpture
Dry willow is biodegradable and within about five years will degrade if left outside exposed to the elements all year round. Placing the sculpture in a dry spot during the wettest months of the year will prolong its life span. Treat new sculptures with a linseed/turpentine mixture or another such safe preservative. Repeat annually. Make sure nearby plants will not be harmed.
Willow rods are “grown” by coppicing. Coppiced wood is when trees or shrubs are repeatedly cut down to near ground level and then make new growth from the stump or roots. Each year willow rods might grow up to ten feet, depending on species.
The Best Book On Willow Tree Scuplture
Living Willow Sculpture by Jon Warnes. This covers in detail, tools & equipment, weaving, joining, and pruning. It also covers construction of domes, wigwams, fences, chairs, tunnels and arbours.
Willow Cuttings For Sale
Washington State: www.dunbargardens.com
New York – kits: www.englishbasketrywillows.com
BC, Canada: www.bluestem.ca
Kits and more, England: www.yorkshirewillow.co.uk
Cuttings: Gloucestershire, UK. www.thewillowbank.com
Also search on eBay
A wonderful art which must be preserved as long as possible. Great work
Amazing living Art..
Coolio
Hi
I’m looking for someone to redo our two big Wicker elephants here at Woburn Safari Park
that have now seen better days. Was wondering if you could put me in touch with anyone that would be able to do them.
Many thanks
Matthew Catling
Head Gardener
Woburn Safari Park.
You have so many artists to choose from!
In Chester: Caroline Gregson
mail@carolinegregson.com
or
in Southhampton:
timjohnsonartist.com/contact/
or
in Somerset:
Serena Delahey
info@serenadelahey.com
or
in Wales:
Micele Cain
michicain@aol.com
or
The Basketmakers Association might direct you to the perfect artist…
basketassoc.org/trade/index.php
Thanks for putting together such a great collection of inspiring pieces. I particularly enjoyed the mosaics.
Hello, This is so synchronistic for me to find your website. I’ve recently had a very strong desire to learn how to grow willow like in these beautiful pieces of garden art I’ve seen. I’m wondering if you happen to know a good source for one like myself to read up a bit on this that help will help me get started – and learn from experience. Thank You for your time.
These are so lovely. Such creativity. Love the natural medium.