Willow dome trend begins!!!!

[Salix]

Just finished our third commission for a willow dome within a school garden today, wow , word gets round fast, this one led to a dome reconstruction, pathwork and possible BIG path job. This started as a nice little change from the routine, helping out our local school, but the head spoke to others, word got round, and now they come thick and fast, so much that we can no longer do them in work time, great .

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/marktheminx/Heskinschool002.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/marktheminx/a10bb6a3.jpg

Anyone else got into this, or attempted before? Would appreciate your comments, experiences

Mark

 

[Bardster]

Just finished our third commission for a willow dome within a school garden today, wow , word gets round fast, this one led to a dome reconstruction, pathwork and possible BIG path job. This started as a nice little change from the routine, helping out our local school, but the head spoke to others, word got round, and now they come thick and fast, so much that we can no longer do them in work time, great .

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/marktheminx/Heskinschool002.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/marktheminx/a10bb6a3.jpg

Anyone else got into this, or attempted before? Would appreciate your comments, experiences

Mark

Yeah - teacher friend of mine down in Brighton built one in his school - the kids love it

 

[Fluxus]

Yep,
down here I've seen a few - good ones always have someone in the school who cares for the structure. They always look great first off but when the second years growth comes, they start to look a bit stragly and some stems die. If you prune them , weave branches in and replace dead stems then you have a winner. Good bit of mulch helps too.
I've been to a school in Cornwall that had to keep the kids away from their willow maze in the summer because the viminalis they used had so many aphids. Their sugary secretions attracted loads of wasps - stung kids - fear of anaphalaxis --- dug it up. Still worth doing just for the buzz of making it - just needs aftercare not to just be flavour of the month.
bigger pics would be good
Flux

 

[andyn]

Wayne had started building a hazel dome bender at his meet the other week which we helped finish off.

They certainly lok good when finished.


BTW....Got any bigger pictures

 

[Salix]

Aye sorry about the pics guys, im'e not that much of a techy

Took my bloody ages to fangle that bit out as well

Mark

 

[Stew]

It's a bit hard for me to tell what this is fom the pictures as they're quite small but I'm guessing the willow being so easy to root starts growing again and forms a living shelter.

What sort of area do you use for it? Any other considerations needed?

 

[Keith_Beef]

Aye sorry about the pics guys, im'e not that much of a techy

Bigger pictures, please, and some more info!


K.

 

[Ketchup]

It looks like the trend is catching on this side of the North Sea as well.

 

[RovingArcher]

Willow domed huts are used as our sweat lodges and if materials are available, I'll put up a shelter from willow while enjoying a stay on the river.

 

[Salix]

Cheers guys,
If anyone would like more info, it's probably better to PM me and I can get some stuff together.

Mark.

 

[Biddlesby]

Have made a few benders; and only ever with willow. Havent tried thatching/covering it with anything natural before, only with tarps and canvas.

 

[Stew]

Cheers guys,
If anyone would like more info, it's probably better to PM me and I can get some stuff together.

Mark.

Naah, I better everyone else is interested really!

 

[Ex Member lyndon]

made one a about 9 years ago it could sleep 8 of us at some point someone covered it in plastic the plastic has rotted and the structure is still alive and well.
now one has just popped up in my childrens school (near brecon) so it seems they really are getting popular

 

[Bushpig]

I've just bought 2 bundles of 7ft willow with the aim of making some small ( 6-12 inch) raised beds with them in my garden. Im a bit stuck for methods to preserve them as im worried bare earth against them will rot them away rather quickly, I've considered coating with linseed oil,beeswax or getting some sort of membrane between the earth and the wilow, any other ideas?

Boooshpig

 

[Salix]

You could try some hazel screens on the inside, hazel last for quite some time, it's readily available, and it's interesting excersise weaving them into panels. This would give the willow some time to establish itself. They used it extensively in the Iron age

 

[Abbe Osram]

Just finished our third commission for a willow dome within a school garden today, wow , word gets round fast, this one led to a dome reconstruction, pathwork and possible BIG path job. This started as a nice little change from the routine, helping out our local school, but the head spoke to others, word got round, and now they come thick and fast, so much that we can no longer do them in work time, great .

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/marktheminx/Heskinschool002.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/marktheminx/a10bb6a3.jpg

Anyone else got into this, or attempted before? Would appreciate your comments, experiences

Mark

Mate, after I had a look at your pictures I am sure I will need to check my eyes!
Are they sooooo small that I dont see a thing or do I need glasses?

cheers
Abbe

 

[Salix]

Alright...........alright............ive already taken the flack for my pics

Im'e no techy uppy_dog

so dont mock

Mark

 

[Abbe Osram]

//abbe