Events, courses, education, volunteering, making & growing together.
Current and Upcoming:
Forever Fields Book Launch
The Forever Fields book will be launched this weekend!
Please come to the opening preview on Sat 18th Jan 2025, 12-5pm at the Bartholomew Room, The Square, Eynsham, Oxfordshire OX29 4HW
About one year ago, we showed willow sculpture Connected, and video installation Pause:Summer in the Forever Fields exhibition. And now we’re massively excited to share the news that the exhibition has been beautifully recreated in book form!
The book records the Forever Fields project, an Art Archive that reflects how local people were feeling about the potential loss of fields, open space, wildlife and heritage, as expressed so powerfully in paintings and drawings, photographs and film, poetry, ceramics and sculpture.
Copies will also be placed in The British Library, The Bodleian Library, four other main UK libraries and several Local Authorities, to provide a permanent archive of the Forever Fields Project and how local people responded through art, print, photography, poetry and sculpture to the Botley West Solar Farm proposal.
A limited number of books will be available for sale on the day, but if they sell out, don’t worry - Forever Fields organisers will be taking orders.
PRICES: Hardback £75 / Paperback £25
To order a hardback copy or soft back magazine version please email foreverfieldsproject@gmail.com.
To find out more, head over to Forever Fields
Willow Harvest 2025!
I’ts that time of year to get coppicing! We have willow and hazel to cut, as well as fencing to repair and new willow varieties to get planting!
Join us for Harvesting sundays 2nd February, 16th February, and 23rd February - contact Charlotte at willowcoppice@gmail.com for details
WillowSpace - Oxford Brookes University
current: ongoing
Willow Coppice were commissioned to create a meeting space in the main quad of Oxford Brookes University, by artist and sculptor Lilli Tranborg. WillowSpace is an outdoor exhibition and training space as well as a peaceful sculptural space to encourage human-nature connectedness.
WillowSpace was built from willow in July 2023 on the pollinator meadow on the Oxford Brookes University's Inner Quad next to the Glass Tank gallery by Willow Coppice and citizen artists.
The sculpture measures six meters in diameter and 1.7 meters at its highest point. A film, 11min 9sec, of the building process is available here and another film, 1min 35s, of the final sculpture in its setting - WillowSpace
It's in the main quad (off Gipsy lane)
Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP
For more info please visit
Exhibition in Wytham Woods: Indirect Signs of Presence | ‘Beneath the Surface’
current: ongoing
Curated by Sara Lowe for University of Oxford’s Wytham Woods, Indirect Signs of Presence is a programme of newly commissioned artwork and events, which aims to connect audiences with the convergence of artistic practice and scientific research.
Alongside maker Greet Blom we were comissioned to design and construct an installation of ‘pollen spheres’ for artist Hermeet Gill who was inspired by the 10,000-year pollen history preserved in Wytham’s Marley Fen to create the suspended work ‘Beneath the Surface’.
Woven in locally harvested willow, dogwood and hazel, the installation will remain in-situ for at least one year to observe it gradually changing throughout the seasons. See more about this piece here
Photographed by Keith Barnes Photography
Past Events:
Forever Fields Open Art Exhibition and Archive
Worton Hall, Worton Park nr Cassington, OX29 4SU
Launch Event:
6pm – 8pm, Friday 24th November 2023
All Welcome
Exhibition open:
10.30am – 7pm Saturday 25th,
10.30am – 4pm Sunday 26th November 2023
Entrance free
Forever Fields is one of the largest art exhibitions in the area for many years, taking place this coming weekend, and featuring 150 works of painting, photography, pottery, sculpture, installations, words and music.
It’s the overwhelming response by local people who were invited to express their feelings about the prospect of losing 3,400 acres of our countryside to Botley West Solar Farm. Over 90 artists, both professional and amateur, have made their contributions.
Forever Fields is also creating a Digital Archive from the artworks, so that if this power station is built, when the developer has to restore the fields after 40 years, there is a unique and accurate record of what was here.
Willow Coppice were comissioned to exhibit a large scale sculpture Connected.
Created by Andy Goodwin and supported by Ross Macken, Laszlo Schingloff, Charlotte Holmes and Paul Turner Connected explores the embrace and the stranglehold between humans and nature.
We are also exhibiting a video installation Pause : Summer : 41 Seconds.
Filmed by Charlotte Holmes between 2018 and 2023 this immersive installation invites the viewer to be a part of nature, and asks how long can a moment hold our attention? Is 41 seconds longer than humanly possible to be absorbed? Nature carries on all around us even if we're not looking.
Exhibition details:
Launch Event - Friday 24th November 2023 - 6pm – 8pm
Saturday 25th November 2023 - 10.30am – 7pm (3.30 – 5.00pm ‘Soundfields’ – live presentation of readings and music)
Sunday 26th November 2023 - 10.30am – 4pm (2.00 – 3.30pm ‘Mandolirium’ – live music by Rod Craig and John Summerscales)
Worton Hall, Worton Park nr Cassington, OX29 4SU
Eynsham’s Sustainable Christmas Arts and Craft Fair
Join us for our Xmas fair, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December!
10a.m - 4.30 pm at Mill Street Arts
66 Mill Street, Eynsham, OX29 4JU
Come and visit our Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair at Mill Street Arts - which will be packed to the rafters with a host of talented artists and makers with a focus on sustainability. You can support local makers whilst finding genuinely personal handmade presents for your loved ones this Xmas! There will be something for everyone, with stallholders including fine art, ceramics, leather work, wood turning, scented candles, jewellery, metal sculpture, illustration, decorations, gifts and cards and willow work - as well as a fantastic array of cakes and mulled wine!
Craft Club at the Peace oak orchard this summer - booking now open
Crafting at the Peace Oak Orchard in Eynsham is back again this summer, and we are pleased to be holding some willow sessions, alongside other events such as working with leather, clay, wood carving and wild inks.
Ideally you should become a member of the Peace Oak (which I think costs about £10 per year, you can download the application form at the bottom of the webpage above), however, session booking is also open to non-members as well.
These are lovely, outdoor, and quite informal events, the main craft session each week is usually accompanied by a drop-in side activity, or people just bring their own projects to swap ideas or skills or just do crafting in good company!
The full list of dates is below:
5th May Willow Swifts
19th May Leather Work
2nd June Wood Carving
16th June Willow Work
30th June Stoneware Pottery
14th July Wild Inks
21st July Willow Lanterns
On-line booking is available on
https://peace-oak.eventcube.io/
Spaces are limited so I would encourage early booking.
If anyone wishing to attend feel they cannot afford the price they can contact me in confidence.
All sessions will begin at 6:45 and last approximately 2 hours. There is an open invite to all to come along from 7:00 on to enjoy the fire and soak up the atmosphere.
Whether you are joining us again, or coming for the first time, we hope to see you there!
Christmas Market and bookable crafting and demos!
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December, 10am - 3.30pm
We’re having a festive fair! It’ll be loads of fun. Sustainable, eco friendly, supporting your local crafts people….. what’s not to love! We will have woodturning demos, spooncarving, and a range of courses you can book including leather working, paper craft, willow weaving and make your own ceramics.
Eynsham Sports Pavillion and playing fields, 1 Oxford Rd, Eynsham, Witney OX29 4HG
(accessible parking, and just by the bus stop)
MATERIAL CONVERSATIONS
11th November – 13 th December 2022
(Gallery closed November 18-20)
An exhibition of work by Oxfordshire Basketmakers
Sewell Centre Gallery, Radley College, Abingdon OX14 2HR
We’re pleased to be showing some of our recent work alongside some legendary basket makers and artists in this exhibition.
The gallery is open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons 1.30-5pm or on other days by appointment through the Art Office (01235 543039).
Please check the opening hours before travelling to the gallery: https://www.radley.org.uk/about-radley/sewell-centre-gallery
Willow weaving workshop at Harcourt Arboretum, Wednesday 23rd November 2022, 11am-2pm
Come and join us for a tree themed workshop at Oxford University's Harcourt Arboretum. This is set to be a lovely day at the arboretum, we'll be a small group, and you'll be able to experiment with a variety of different weaving and green woodworking techniques.
You can still buy tickets via the Arboretum website - but do hurry, it's selling out fast!
https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/event/mini-christmas-tree-willow-weaving
Harcourt Arboretum Spring Fair and Plant Sale, Saturday 14th May 10am-4pm
Come and join us for some family friendly willow weaving in the green oak Woodland Barn at Oxford University’s stunning Harcourt Arboretum.
The Spring Fair and Plant Sale is part of Fascination of Plants Day 2022, with events taking place across the world throughout the whole month of May. This will showcase the importance of plant science for nutritious food, horticulture, forestry and the production of plant-based non-food products such as paper, timber, chemicals, energy and pharmaceuticals.
Find out more and book here
Blossom Day at Chippy Community Orchard, Sunday May 8th
from 12 noon – 3pm
Roll up, roll up for some willow weaving alongside music and dancing from Charlbury and Finstock Morris, children’s activities, rural crafts, refreshments and more at Chipping Norton’s lovely commmunity orchard project. Find out more here.
The Market Garden’s Christmas Market. Thursday December 9th 5pm - 8pm
We’ll be bringing trees, forests, coppices and wreathes to the Christmas Market at Eynsham’s organic green-grocers and refillers. Eynsham Cellars will host a mini wine tasting
The Curiosity Box featuring fun science in a box, Eynsham Country Markets, Blissful Bites, Bee Sew Snazzy, Cups of Calm, Sheila Raven Jewellery and more, along with Lucky Dip and Cheese tasting. Christmas carollers from 6:30pm and Father Christmas will be making an appearance. Wholesome Earth Café will be serving mulled wine, mince pies & other festive treats!
Pop up Christmas Craft Market: December 12th 10am - 3.30pm
Welcome to a small feast of arts and crafts from local, sustainable crafts people and makers including Wood Farm’s hand-forged tools, RAD Woodturning’s forests, Preservation Leather’s leather works and jewellery, as well as ceramics from The Chicken Run Studio, along with willow work and decorations from Willow Coppice.
We’ll have live craft demonstrations, a “weave your own” willow tree drop-in, and all washed down with delicious Swedish Glögg (a fragrant mulled wine) and tasty treats from Ellie’s Kitchen.
Where and when: Tanners Lane Eynsham, Sunday December 12th 10am - 3.30pm
No parking on Tanners Lane, please park considerately nearby.
A regular stagecoach bus service S1 runs both ways Oxford - Witney - Carterton all day Sundays - timetable and route map.
Eynsham Church bus stop is less than 2 minutes walk away.
Pop-up Christmas Shop: Sunday 28th November 10am - 4pm
Come and visit our pop-up mini Xmas market for a chance to get your hands on sustainable Christmas gifts and handmade crafts by local craftpeople, including the fabulous Will and Ellie from Preservation Leather and ceramics from The Chicken Run Studio.
We’ll also have willow cuttings and basketry tools, including Wood Farm’s newly designed 100% recycled bodkin!
Profits will support planting of more trees and willow coppices.
Where: Eynsham Sports Pavillion Oxford Road, Eynsham, Oxfordshire OX29 4HG
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N3MMNjHvLoHLgxMKA
If you need to drive there is car parking directly outside. A regular stagecoach bus service S1 runs both ways Oxford - Witney - Carterton all day Sundays - timetable and route map. Eynsham Church bus stop is less than 2 minutes walk away.
Winter Workshop: Sunday 28th November 10am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 4pm
FULLY BOOKED. PLEASE VISIT OUR POP UP MARKET INSTEAD.
Dreaming of a more sustainable Christmas? Then come and join us for a festive willow weaving workshop, where you will make your own creative and sustainable Christmas decorations in locally grown willow and wood, so you can have fun weaving, and take home some eco-friendly and beautiful decorations for your festive season!
We'll also have a small pop-up shop with sustainable Xmas gifts and local, ethical and seasonal products.
Trees and Stars: The day will be in two parts, you can come to the morning session, the afternoon session, or even better, both.
In the morning it's all about Trees: we will make a tree centre piece in willow and hazel, and multiple tree hanging Christmas decorations.
In the afternoon the theme is Stars: we will make Swedish Christmas Stars, Christmas Tree stars, and lots of hanging tree decoration stars.
When:
Sunday 28th November
10am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 4pm
You can book the morning session, the afternoon session, or both.
What's included:
No previous experience is necessary, we'll guide you every step of the way, but if you have any basket making tools please bring them along, we will be using:
Secateurs,
Scissors
, Slyping knife
, Measuring tape,
Bodkin,
Hand drills
. There will be plenty of tools for you to borrow if you don't have any of these.
Zero waste, organic materials will be provided by us, but please feel free to bring along your own string or ribbon if you are planning on a particular colour scheme for your Xmas decorations. Everything we make will be fully compostable, or can be treasured for years to come. If you'd like to bring our own foraged hedgerow or home-grown material to make with then please do, it would be brilliant! We recommend that willow is cut and air dries for at least a fortnight before use.
Where:
Oxford Road
Eynsham
Oxfordshire OX29 4HG
Map:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/N3MMNjHvLoHLgxMKA
The venue is accessible, with lots of open green space. It's easy to walk to for those who live in or near the village. If you need to drive there is car parking directly outside. A regular stagecoach bus service S1 runs both ways Oxford - Witney - Carterton all day Sundays - timetable and route map.
Eynsham Church bus stop is less than 2 minutes walk away.
How to book:
Booking is essential as numbers are limited and we need to know how much material to prepare in advance. Please email us at willowcoppice@gmail.com and let us know how many places you'd like to book, morning, afternoon or both as soon as you can since we expect this to sell out quickly. The fab bit is that not only will this be really fun and you'll make gorgeous decorations, but also that this will help fund us to keep on planting and growing our sustainable carbon-capturing willow and carry on doing affordable workshops.
If your budget is too tight at this difficult time just drop me a line and we can sort something out.
We hope to see you on the 28th for some festive, eco-friendly and creative fun.
Maintenance and Making day at Wood Farm: Sunday 14th November 2021 10 am -4pm
After our fantastic hay making session it’s time to get mulching hedgerows and tending last year’s saplings. We’ll work in the morning, break for lunch prepared by market gardener Paul, and then do some willow weaving in the afternoon.
Contact Charlotte at willowcoppice@gmail.com for details.
Volunteering at Wood Farm: Saturday 16th October 2021 10 am -4pm
Come and help us clear the wild wildflower meadows so we can find our willow beds and hedgerow again after a rampant summer! We’ll make hay while the sun shines, and Paul will rustle up some organic veggie lunch. You dont need to stay all day, but if you can spare a couple of hours we’d love the help!
Contact Charlotte at willowcoppice@gmail.com for details.
Combe Mill ‘Steaming Sunday’ Woodcrafts - Sunday 17th October 10am - 5pm
We’ll be weaving willow on the banks of the river Evenlode this Sunday. Join us at this Wood Crafts event with the Oxfordshire Bodgers at the historic Steam Mill in Combe.
The mill will be fired up and steaming away, and Charlbury Morris will entertain in the afternoon, and the bodgers will be demonstrating various heritage crafts such as pole lathing and spoon carving.
Go to Combe Mill for more info.
Harcourt Arboretum Autumn Fair: 9th October 10:00 to 16:00
We’ll be demonstrating willow skills and you can weave your own piece with us at Oxford’s legendary Harcourt Arboretum Autumn Fair.
Harcourt Arboretum contains the finest collection of trees in Oxfordshire and some of the oldest redwoods in the UK. At this time of year, the Arboretum is aflame with autumn colour.
Car parking for this event will be limited and because of this, tickets must be pre-booked.
Click here to book tickets to the Arboretum, and select October 9th.
Clay Workshop with The Chicken Run Studio: August 12th 2021
Hand formed pinch pits and Raku firing with Alison Holmans aka The Chicken Run Studio . Hyper-local clay, dug from the Red Lion carpark in Eynsham, and North Leigh. Hand formed. Glazes are made of minerals, copper oxide, iron oxide, copper carbonate, Gillespie Borate, Raku fired for 1hr at 1050 degrees centigrade, plunged into sawdust whist white hot to produce the vdestincive melt and crackle of oxidised raku glazing.
Wychwood Forest Fair: 22nd August 2021, 11:00 - 17:00
Join us for the annual family-friendly Wychwood Forest Fair on Sunday 22nd August at Foxburrow Wood, Witney! With heaps of entertainment including rural crafts, ferret racing, falconry, food stalls, pony rides, storytelling, live music, morris dancing, a bar and much more, it's a fun way to enjoy a summer Sunday while supporting your local conservation charity.
The Wychwood Forest Fair is a family-friendly country fair celebrating rural crafts, community and conservation in the historic Wychwood area. This year's Fair will be open-air with plenty of room to spread out.
For more info and booking please visit the Wychwood Forest Trust
We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Craft Club at Peace Oak Orchard, Eynsham, with David Knight spooncarving and guest tutors
Our bi-weekly Thursday evening crafting sessions continue......Thursday 1st, 15th and 29th July, through to August 12th and 26th
David Knight spooncarving has led groups in carving Swedish butter knives, as well in carving coat hooks with side branches, and we’ve had some great sessions learning willow techniques including hoop making and weaving fish.
We’ve had fabulous guest tutors, we were really pleased to welcome Penny Maltby from @MinistryofStraw. Almost miraculously she tutored a group of us (including me) who had never worked with straw to make a corn dolly from beautiful gleaming straw, in just two hours. Hats off Penny!
We were also so excited that multi-talented social activist Cassy Healey and Catherine Healey came to introduce us to the wonders of cyanotype printing. Each personal print was designed using wildflowers from the meadow. Cassy inspired us with loads of new ideas for activities with her vast experience from chair carving to mosaics!
Other practioners have been engaging in some textile work, axe-carving and knitting, all around the campfire - and fuelled by some delicious cake from Helena, of Stitches for Survival Campaign , a group of textile practitioners who are creating a 1.5 mile long scarf in response to the climate crisis to take to the COP26 climate talks to be held in Glasgow this November. The length of the scarf represents the 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement.
Ffennel Festival of outdoor learning, Hill End, Oxfordshire 12th June 2021
We're really looking forward to being part of Hill End's 101th anniversary and their ffennel festival of the outdoors!
Hill End is the wonderful outdoor learning centre on the edge of Wytham Woods.
There will be outdoor activities including bushcraft, willow weaving, wood whittling, pond dipping as well as live music, a barbecue, and pop up cafe, so please come, bring your friends and family and hopefully the sunshine!
Tickets can be booked here
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hill-end-ffennell-101-festival-tickets-155535734569
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Coppicing days at Vincents Wood: contact us
Join us and learn woodland coppicing skills coppicing hazel and harvesting and planting willow, contact us for dates.
