Phil Bradley's willow baskets

I’ve just caught up with a friend of mine, Phil Bradley, who is a local willow grower and basket maker. Phil is a well renowned teacher of his craft and has been making beautiful baskets and sculptures for many years.

Phil grows his own willow, which he uses for a whole variety of projects. These can range from very large commissioned sculptures, down to smaller baskets and decorative pieces. Here's how it looks, when fully grown...

This section of willow has been coppiced – the small clusters at the base will sprout new shoots in the spring…

The photo below shows bundles of willow, which have recently been harvested. They can be dried for storage, but will need soaking before use, in order make them flexible…

When I arrived, Phil was working on a basket – a skill which he has pretty much perfected! The circular section below will become the base of a finished piece…

Here are some finished items, which I have on display in my showroom. I’m going to be showcasing his work until the end of this month…