Spirituality and religion

Activity 1        Rock a bye your baby in a willow cradle

One of our simplest activities - buy or commission a unique cradle from a local basket maker. A truly beautiful item for your babies’ nursery.

Activity 10      Make a sacred willow stick for a new born child

In Japan a tribe of people called the Ainu make sacred sticks called inau to celebrate the birth of a child. The Ainu would prey to the willow stick for the wellbeing and future prosperity of the newborn child. One of our most complicated activities requiring skill and patience.

Activity 30      Tell a child the story of the willow pattern plate

The willow pattern plate is one of the earliest examples of a design classic. Yet despite the image being so familiar few of us can confess to knowing the story of the scenes being depicted. Why not get to know the story and tell it to children on a picnic under a weeping willow tree?

Activity 44      Celebrate Spring with the Easter Tree

Whilst the Norway spruce is unquestionably the tree of Christmas the goat willow can lay claim to being the Easter tree. This activity describes how to blow and decorate an egg to hang on your Easter tree.

Activity 53      Make a pussy willow friendship bracelet

Willow catkins are wonderfully furry and very tactile. This activity allows you to create a friendship bracelet using pussy willows as “beads”.

Activity 60      Celebrate the Jewish holiday of Succoth

The willow or arava is one of the most important plants in the Jewish faith. Along with the citron (escrog), date palm (lulav) and myrtle (haddash) it forms an essential part of the holiday of Succoth which celebrates the end of the harvest season. It begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri which generally falls in October.

Activity 65      Hug a tree and develop your senses of smell and touch

In our daily lives most of us are guilty of looking through trees and not appreciating their beauty and usefulness. This activity provides a way for a group of children to get in touch with nature by investigating a willow tree whilst blindfolded. This will help them use their senses of smell, touch and hearing.

Activity 80      Make a magic wand

Willow branches are traditionally used to make magic wands for druids and witches. This activity provides an easy method for producing a spellbinding wand for your budding Harry Potter.

Activity 81      Build a Green Cathedral

Swiss architect Marcel Kalberer has created numerous monumental living willow structures all over Europe. You could be a part of the building process at a future project by volunteering your time and effort.

Activity 85      Make your own sauna

Sweat lodges formed a very important part of the cultural and sacred rituals of Native Americans. They work by the same principal as saunas; the addition of water to hot rocks or coals giving off steam causing participants to sweat thereby cleansing their skin and purging the body of toxins. Here’s how to make your very own using willow.

Activity 101 Go out in style in a willow coffin

Just as willow in the form of a babies cradle can provide a welcome into the world it can also play a part in the final act of our lives. This activity provides information on alternatives to traditional coffins, cremations and burials.