Early Summer in a Hurdlemaker’s World

Close-up view of a woven hedge made of intertwined branches, with trees and a blue sky in the background.
Willow plant climbers and cloches are made to order and can be made in a variety of sizes
A hazel hurdle being woven on site with oak posts to start and finish. Further oak posts will be installed at the back of the hurdle once it is completed to secure the fence even more.

The hazel is starting to turn, which means the annual race against time is underway. The last of this winter’s cut needs using before it dries out so it’s been busy few months in the woods and workshop.

n this issue: Working in the largest hospital in the East Midlands, Hazel wattle & daub and Summer work for a coppice worker.

A garden scene with a brick and woven wood fence, a rusty metal sculpture, blooming pink and purple flowers, and various green plants along a cobblestone path.

Spring for a Hurdle maker

Its been a perfect Spring for a hurdlemaker~the weather has been kind for us weavers, the chilly temperatures till early May meant the willow did not dry out as early so very much easier to weave and a lot less work than using the soaked willow. As for the hazel, the same too! I leave the hazel in whats called ‘drifts’ in the woods where it’s damp and shaded so it doesn’t dry out. With the lack of rain and cool temperatures has meant I can still weave it in mid June when it’s usually past its best. Its always a frantic race to use it all before it turns and goes off every year but luckily the pressure wasn’t so intense this Spring thanks to the weather.

Amongst the work carried out one of the most interesting of jobs was supplying considerable amount of hazel rods for a project not far away in Staffordshire for a couple renovating a stunning barn.

A man wearing a flat cap, black jacket, and orange gloves is sawing a piece of wood outdoors under a rustic shelter made of logs and fabric. The ground is covered with wood shavings and debris, and there are two small wooden stools near him.
Close-up of a damaged wooden ceiling with a broken concrete block and scattered debris.
A garden scene with a rustic stone wall in the background, a woven wooden fence, green bushes, a small young tree, and a cut tree trunk used as a stool. The ground is covered in mulch and there is a patch of green grass on the left. The sky above is partly cloudy with patches of blue.

During excavation they came across this wall with the old lath and plaster. The lath was round hazel rods dating back to 1690!! As they are reinstating all the features they called me.

Just a few sections to weave prior to the plaster being applied again 336 years after the initial wall went in!

Courses run throughout the year-here a happy student is putting the finishing touches to her first willow plant climber.
Willow hurdle woven in situ to add a little more privacy to the garden
The image shows an old, weathered wooden staircase with rusted metal railings. It appears to be part of a building under renovation or disrepair, with plastic sheeting and construction materials visible behind it. A small lantern light is hanging on a wire to the right.

During excavation they came across this wall with the old lath and plaster. The lath was round hazel rods dating back to 1690!! As they are reinstating all the features they called me.