New willow sculptures unveiled at Banbury community garden
More than 25 volunteers came together to help create two striking willow sculptures at Banbury's Bridge Street Community Garden for everyone to enjoy.
The sculptures, created on Monday, July 13, form part of a community art project called The Woven Place, which celebrates creativity, nature and the connections between people.
Over recent weeks, volunteers and community facilitators linked to the garden have been learning willow-weaving skills from the Willow Coppice team, an Oxfordshire-based organisation that sustainably grows basketry willow for community projects and environmental initiatives.
The two sculptures were built by Willow Coppice members Charlotte Holmes, Paul Turner and Andy Goodwin, with practical support from volunteers from Bridge Street Community Garden and Banbury Woodcraft Folk.
More than 25 volunteers from organisations including The Hill Banbury, Banbury Woodcraft Folk, Bridge Street Community Garden, Biodiversity Bloxham, Cherwell District Council, Banbury Trees and People's Theatre Collective took part in the The Woven Place project.
Tila Rodriguez-Past, garden officer at Bridge Street Community Garden, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Charlotte, Paul and Andy from Willow Coppice for their creativity, skill, patience and generosity.
“They not only created two beautiful structures for the garden, but also shared valuable skills and encouraged local people to become part of the creative process.
“All the willow used for the project was grown sustainably by Willow Coppice, which was very important to us. The project connects creativity, community and care for the environment in a meaningful way.
“A huge thank you also goes to the more than 25 volunteers and community members who made individual pieces, attended workshops, helped during the building sessions and supported the project in all kinds of practical ways. Every contribution helped to bring The Woven Place to life.”
The Woven Place was developed through a partnership between People's Theatre Collective and Banbury Community Action Group, with funding from Cherwell District Council.
Debs Howe, strategic director of People's Theatre Collective, said: “The Collective and Bridge Street Community Garden bring stories and nature together through this project.
“Making something side by side helps to weave communities together, giving people opportunities to meet others, learn new skills, share ideas and contribute new stories to the fabric of our town.”