Living Willow House Sculpture
As part of our daughters December birthday present we bought her a willow house. Its a dome shaped structure constructed with willow rods which are woven together. Come spring, the rods will burst into bud and grow. The living willow house will be an ideal den for the children, and it will last for years. All we need to do is weave in the new shoots, and cut off any branches we don't want.
I love this gift to our children for a variety of reasons. Buying it supports employment of local crafts people in our neighbourhood. Its made from a renewable crop. Its not plastic. Its creation leaves no carbon footprint whatsoever.
Theres no waste. Its constructed from a fast growing willow species which is also suitable for coppicing as a wood fuel ... so the clippings we prune off each year can be stuck into the ground, hence becoming the first of our own homegrown biofuel crop.
And the kids get hours of fun running in and out. I'll post more photos of it in the spring when the leaves have sprouted.
Thank you Brenda for creating this little treasure for our children, even though there was freezing fog on the day of your visit! Email me if you'd like Brendas contact details for a willow structure of your own.
I'm looking for someone who could facilitate a group of young people to do willow sculpture or make a dome or something like that in cork. anyone with any info please let me know
Posted by: kate | 18/10/2007 at 01:48 PM
does anyone know where (ideally Dublin or around) you can source willow suitable for this kind of thing or for a living willow fence?
Posted by: Marguerite | 18/04/2007 at 06:28 PM
I am going to do one of these myself & my sister asked if it is a certain kind of willow. Do you know or does any willow work?
She has a twisted willow tree. Also does the length of pole matter? So if they are say 3feet high will they grow in height or will it be a low roofed house then???
And do you weave the roof to give a ceiling or do you leave it open to the sky?
Posted by: Tricia | 06/04/2007 at 11:51 AM
That's great! We've planted a small dome for our 5 kids, it's just started sprouting and will hopefully survive this snow! I got the willow from a lady on freecycle who cuts all her trees back each year so hope it's the right stuff!
Posted by: Ruthanne | 19/03/2007 at 08:03 PM
I tried to do the same on our allotment last year, but I think I was sold a dead bunch as they never sprouted. We were so disapointed. I hope yours takes!
Posted by: Sew Recycled! | 23/01/2007 at 01:29 PM
maybe their children will play in it too!
Posted by: herhimnbryn | 23/01/2007 at 01:07 PM
Incredible. Who even thought up the idea in the first place? Can't wait to see it in action.
Posted by: VictoriaE | 31/12/2006 at 03:57 AM
That is just tooo cool I can't wait to see it in the springtime your girls are gonna love it.
RaNae
Posted by: RaNae | 30/12/2006 at 05:41 PM
What a wonderful thing!
Posted by: Flibbertygibbet | 29/12/2006 at 09:22 PM
How absolutely wonderful! That's going to be magical fortress for your girls when it bursts into life in the Spring.
Posted by: Sarah | 29/12/2006 at 07:31 PM
Can we come and live with you? No, seriously!
Posted by: Cherry Menlove | 29/12/2006 at 10:28 AM
that is the coolest gift ever - I cant wait to see photos!
Posted by: Gwyn | 28/12/2006 at 08:01 PM
I love the living willow dens, I've been wanting to put one in our garden for a while, but am not sure where to get the willow from. What a great idea for a present.
Posted by: Beth | 28/12/2006 at 06:16 PM
What a brilliant idea - it's going to make a fab den for the girls - looking forward to seeing it in spring.
Posted by: Julie | 28/12/2006 at 03:36 PM