This spring we've welcomed back Tom Hare, acclaimed willow artist, to weave some more creations to adorn the garden. Anyone who's visited Wisley in the last year will have seen Tom's work from last year, including the mushrooms by the Pinetum picnic site, the apple and pear near the Fruit Mount, Acer seeds in the Arboretum and willow roots by the Model Veg Garden on Weather Hill.
This year we have a series of bullrushes by the lake on Seven Acres, and some pine cone dens further down in the Pinetum. Incidentally, the bluebells are looking wonderful down there at the moment.
The sculptures have steel frames to help them last, and so that visitors can love them for longer! And visitors of all ages helped Tom make them, including lots of children. We've received plenty of comments in our visitors book.
We look forward to one more of Tom's willow sculptures being installed on Seven Acres this year, and that will be a sprouting oak seed. Can't wait to see it!
Visit Tom's blog
Comments from willow weaving visitor book
Kept them busy and quiet! (James, Max & Iona, aged 9, 7 & 6)
I enjoyed the weaving and putting the willow sticks round the leafs. (Marcus, aged 10)
It was really fun weaving in and out. (Phoebe, aged 6)
It was good fun (George, aged 7)
It was very good, thank you! (Max, aged 7)
Thank you (Theo, aged 4)
Inspiring! (Jane, aged 50-something)
Good fun! (Gracie, aged 5)
I think willow weaving is hard work. (Ben, aged 6 ½)
I liked it. (Archie, aged 4)
It was good. (Jo, aged 3)
It was good fun. (Summer, aged 2)
Very fun and very tricky and interesting. (Emily, aged 7 ¼)
Just warning you mind your eyes! But it was fun. Bendtastic. (Charlotte, aged 9)
Great fun! Hope you enjoy it as well. (Isabelle, aged 11)
I really enjoyed it. (Marcus, aged 9)
I really enjoyed it. (Oliver, aged 10)
Really good fun. (Lewis, aged 9)
Loved it, really enjoyable. (Ella, aged 11)
A good experience, loved it. (Tom, aged 11)
I liked it, it was fun. (Elizabeth, aged 9)
I really wish I had longer. (john, aged 11)
Great fun! (Clare, aged 50)
Fun! (Lucy, aged 19)
It was fun. (Ben, aged 5)
It was really cool and I want to do it again. (Alice, aged 8)
The kids thoroughly enjoyed it. (Caitlin, Keegan & Emily, aged 7, 10 & 3)
Very simple, good fun. (Jo, Frankie, Olivia & Lucy, aged 38, 7, 5 & 2)
Excellent. (Matthew and Charlotte, aged 7 & 9)
Enjoyed it so much came twice. (Emily, aged 4)
Came from Virginia, USA to see this! (Tina, aged 67)
Could have done it all day. (Luke, aged 5)
Slow start but soon got the bug. (Christopher, aged 4)
Fun, thank you. (Charlotte and Andrew)
Excellent. (Tom, aged 12)
Super fun. (Callum, aged 8)
Really fun and very good. (Alice, aged 10)
Fun, great, fantastic and excellent. (Chloe, aged 8 ½)
It was brilliant and fantastic. (David, aged 10)
Awesome, we’re off to make on at home! (Fiona and Shona, aged 36 & 26)