Journal
Nests and Baskets
It was made and laid last spring, during the first lockdown, in a town centre shrub, barely concealed, and less than half a metre from the ground. It was a time when there were few humans (or their dogs) on the streets, and would have been a good location... but then...
Wakehurst: Space Between
Site specific sculpture commissioned by Wakehurst in 2017 as part of the Wild Wood Festival. Situated in Pearcelands Wood, their newly-opened ancient woodland. The horizontal oak branch (from which hazel poles are suspended) fell in the great storm of 1987. The branch...
Joy of Clay
Lots of us haven't made anything from clay since primary school, and it even then it was most likely commercially produced clay, which is bland in comparison to stuff you dig yourself. Perhaps that was also the last time many of us got truly stuck into squishing up...
Making an Oak Swill
One of the first things you notice about Owen Jones, apart from his friendly, relaxed demeanor, is his hands: huge and work-worn. They've definitely seen some years of graft. I'm at his workshop in Cumbria, to make an oak swill. This is a traditional split wood basket...
Archaeologists Making Baskets
A crisp cold November morning and I'm meeting a group of archaeologists at Fort Cumberland in Portsmouth for a day of basketmaking. During our discussions and through the making itself, a couple of very interesting revelations happen over the day, which make...
Looped Cordage: Netted Bags
After a day of making cordage from foraged plant fibres, my grubby fingernails show evidence of all the separating and scraping. Once you're committed to the steady, repetitive nature of prepping and twining cordage, it's a deeply satisfying process. So much so that...
Forage of the Month
Forage of the Month – July / August
Pendulous Sedge Crackers. These taste delicious and are easy to make. I experimentd to create a savoury and a sweet version, and my recipes are inspired by Mo Wilde and Pascal Bauder.Pendulous sedge (Carex pendula), also known as weeping sedge, is native to the UK and...
Forage of the Month- July
Nettle SeedsNettles are a truly amazing plant. They're a valuable food source to key butterfly species, and also humans, plus their fibres are very strong and good for making cordage and textiles. Over recent years, the big nettle patch at the end of my garden has...
Forage of the Month- June
Elderflower Cake The fragrant, frothy elder flowers are out now, a lovely sign of summer. Elderflower cordial recipes abound, so here's a favourite recipe of mine for elderflower cake. I've created a vegan version for this recipe too, which you'll find further down....