Wyldwood Willow | 🧺 Learn Basketry, Coffin Making, Sculptures & More! reviews

Jackie Chapman reviewed: Oval shallow basket for the garden at New barn at Usk Castle Chase,Monmouthshire

"Great day weaving, really enjoyed the course. Very happy with my first basket, and will definitely do another course with Amanda. Only downside, my confirmation email gave directions to Usk Castle and not to the actual venue which was a couple of miles away."

Michelle Whitcombe reviewed: Weaving peaframes and hurdles at Usk Castle Chase

"I had a fabulous day on Amanda's pea frame and hurdle workshop. Amanda is an amazing tutor and very calm and patient. We all waited to catch up before moving to the next stage. Usk castle chase was a fab venue, very peaceful. I am definitely booking my next workshop with Amanda, and her daughter's chocolate cake was delicious too."

Caylee reviewed: Weaving peaframes and hurdles at Usk Castle Chase

"Loved it - really interesting day, in a beautiful location with yummy cake :)"

Tom Dixon reviewed: Weaving peaframes and hurdles at Usk Castle Chase

"My wife and I both thoroughly enjoyed our day with Amanda making willow pea frames and hurdles. The instruction was clear and easy to follow. With the small group size meant that Amanda was always available to help out or to answer questions. Nice tea and biscuits to keep us warm and motivated on a fairly wet day, thankfully we were all under shelter in Amanda's teaching area. I would recommend and would be keen to book another day with Amanda to learn more about willow weaving."

Andrea reviewed: Weaving peaframes and hurdles at Usk Castle Chase

"I booked my entire family on this course and they made fabulous pea frames and garden hurdles. Sadly on the day, I was suddenly unwell and unable to attend. Amanda has been extraordinarily generous in letting me attend another course despite the last minute cancellation. My family all enjoyed it immensely and recommend it unreservedly."

Clare Reid reviewed: Willow frame basket weaving at wonderful Ella's

"The willow weaving workshop with Amanda was excellent fun, really rewarding and in a beautiful location. Amanda has the patience of a saint and helped us all out with the tricky bits. Plus, she provided yummy cake and plenty of tea and coffee! I am looking forward to my next workshop with her."

Chris Mead reviewed: Willow frame basket weaving at wonderful Ella's

"I came to Amanda’s basket weaving day at a beautiful setting in Usk as a complete beginner but came away having made a lovely woven basket that I am enormously proud of. The day was well run and very affordable and Amanda was a very talented and patient teacher who constantly amazed me with her ability to immediately identify where I had gone wrong and help me to quickly put right any mistakes. I am already planning my next visit and have no hesitation in recommending Amanda’s courses"

Sarah Clay reviewed: Willow frame basket weaving at wonderful Ella's

"I did the shopping basket making course at Usk Castle Chase and was thrilled to come home with a beautiful "Dicky Meadows" willow basket that I had actually made. Amanda was an amazing teacher, so patient and explained everything perfectly. If we went wrong she immediately put us right. Loved the day and would highly recommend it even for somebody like myself with no previous experience. Thank you Amanda for teaching me."

Hannah reviewed: Willow frame basket weaving at wonderful Ella's

"We had an amazing day with Amanda making our shopping baskets. She was a great teacher and im really impressed with the basket I brought home! Especially as a complete beginner! Will definitely be looking into more Wyldwood courses."

Teresa Taylor reviewed: willow sculpture weaving workshop

"Went to the willow sculpture workshop with my brother and his 16 year old daughter, we all really enjoyed it, everyone was very friendly. Amanda did a great job instructing everyone on making their various items.. she had her work cut out as we were almost all making different things. I was surprised at what we all achieved in a day - tea/coffee and cake was provided and we had a short break for lunch.. I have already booked a basket weaving day with Amanda.. and my brother and his daughter also want to do another workshop with her .. so top marks from us ?"

Wyldwood Willow | 🧺 Learn Basketry, Coffin Making, Sculptures & More! responded:

"Thanks lovely! Amazing words from you and i thoroughly enjoyed it too- you were all so good! Look forward to spending more time with you. All the best Amanda Wyldwoodwillow"

saffron reviewed: Weaving peaframes and hurdles at Usk Castle Chase

"Really lovely day, beautiful location and Amanda an excellent teacher. Covered loads of ground and made beautiful structures. Felt really Covid safe, would highly recommend!"

Polly Huggett reviewed: Living willow workshop

"Excellent in every way . Amanda is a brilliant and most generous teacher . And the living willow room was beautiful the moment it was there. . Whole heartedly recommend Wyldwood Willow courses ."

Viv Kersey reviewed: Living willow workshop

"We had a brilliant time building the living willow yurt, it looked so good at the end of the day! Amanda is a great teacher, we learnt lots and are looking forward to making our own at home."

Kathryn reviewed: Living willow workshop

"Had a fantastic day with Amanda building an amazing live willow yurt"

Wyldwood Willow | 🧺 Learn Basketry, Coffin Making, Sculptures & More! responded:

"Thanks very much for the review Kath. Much appreciated. See you again soon I hope xx"

dominic reviewed: Weave a willow coffin

"An excellent course taught by a knowledgeable tutor in a friendly atmosphere and beautiful setting. The teaching style was relaxed but thorough and patient. Students of all abilities were supported to the level needed. We all made our own beautiful coffins and went away with new skills and memories of a lovely few days."

Jeanne Weston reviewed: Weaving peaframes and hurdles at Usk Castle Chase

"Thanks Amanda for such an enjoyable and productive day. I love what I took home today! Your teaching skills were impressive and I am amazed at how much covered in one day. I would not hesitate to recommend this course to my friends."

Katherine reviewed: Weave a willow coffin

"I really enjoyed the course. Amanda is so patient, kind and encouraging. She stepped in to help when needed but also judged well when to allow us to complete parts of the coffin weaving ourselves, as after all it’s only by doing it yourself that you can learn this kind of skill. The venue was lovely - peaceful, clean and accessible - and Amanda kept us well fed with plenty of cups of tea and treats! As mentioned already the course is quite intensive and it’s probably quite helpful - but definitely not essential - to have a bit of prior willow weaving experience. Definitely recommended!"

Meg reviewed: Weave a willow coffin

"Would highly recommend Manda's coffin course to anyone considering it. Fab venue, delicious food and an awesome teacher, was well worth the trip down from Scotland to do it! And she can even post your coffin back home for you if you travel by train so don't let that put you off! It was quite an intense few days which I found really enjoyable and as promised I had a complete coffin by the end of it and had learnt enough to be able to repeat at home and make another couple."

Rosie Wall reviewed: Weaving peaframes and hurdles at Usk Castle Chase

"This was my third course with Amanda and no doubt I shall be back for more! As I'd had my wrist taken out of plaster only the week before, she kindly let me bring my daughter to do the weaving work whilst I took notes and photos, ate cake and drank tea. We both thoroughly enjoyed the day, the venue and the convivial company, then took home a pea-frame and hurdle we were proud of. Both now have pride of place in the garden - my daughter's!"

T Simmonds reviewed: Rope Weave Willow Bowl Workshop

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Amanda. I learnt much from her knowledge and weaving skills. I can't wait for the next workshop as I think I've caught the weaving bug. Wonderful gluten free cake and outstanding setting!"

Kate Gwatkin reviewed: Weaving peaframes and hurdles at Usk Castle Chase

"My husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed the willow pea frame and hurdle course. Brilliant day. Fantastic venue at Usk Castle. Came back to do the basket weaving course later in the year. Would recommend to anyone. Makes a fantastic present. Amanda is a great teacher. Keeping the numbers on the course small means we all get to make the perfect hurdle and pea frame. Which have stood in my garden all year. Her daughters homemade cake was delicious too!"

Anona Blackwell reviewed: Weaving peaframes and hurdles at Usk Castle Chase

"Venue easy to find and plenty of free parking space near the venue. Small friendly group so plenty of interaction and advice from the tutor. I went to learn how to make willow hurdles for my large garden. All materials provided and Amanda even brought us some cake for the tea breaks! Strongly recommend."

Portia Trow reviewed: Traditional Frame baskets with Amanda Rayner

"My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Amanda is a wonderful teacher and we achieved more than we expected!The setting is beautiful. I would love to go again."

Richard Pugh reviewed: willow sculpture weaving workshop

"I have attended a few of Amanda's workshops now and am impressed with her knowledge and skills not to mention patience with us all. The sculpture workshop I found challenging but extremely rewarding as my odd shape eventually became a snake complete with several wiggles! On that workshop others made chickens,pheasants,cats,balls,obelisks and Amanda never once lost her cool and hopped about between us encouraging guiding and tweaking until we had all finished with great results. The cake was delicious!"

Helen Stenson reviewed: Oval shallow basket for the garden at New barn at Usk Castle Chase,Monmouthshire

"A great day spent willow weaving and very happy with my first attempts. Plenty of fresh willow for the whole class and we were working in a very atmospheric old barn. Tuition was clear, a demonstration of each step given and Amanda ensured nobody was left behind. I would certainly go on another course with Wyldwoodwillow."