Weardale
The Weardale Basketry Group meets in the St Thomas Centre, 2 Rectory Lane, Wolsingham, DL13 3AG. Rectory Lane is just off Angate Street (B6296). The hall and car park are behind St Thomas Church, and access is down the left-hand side of the church building. A map is available for anyone who needs help finding the venue.
We meet on the second Saturday in each month except August (no meeting) and December (1st Saturday) from 10am-3pm.
The session dates through to the end of 2027 are:
- 14th November 2026
- 5th December 2026
- 9th January 2027
- 13th February
- 13th March
- 10th April
- 8th May
- 12th June
- 10th July
- August - no meeting
- 11th September
- 9th October
- 13th November
- 4th December
The fee is £15 per session. This covers prepared willow, hot drinks & biscuits, and the use of tools and books (see below). You will also need to become a member of Northumbria Basketry Group, which costs £10 a year (the year runs from 1st April), and you can find the joining form on the website.
You will need to bring:
- a packed lunch, although we provide hot drinks and biscuits
- a favourite pair of secateurs if you have them
- a camera/phone, notebook and pen for noting instructions
- an apron - or wear old clothes! Tannin from the willow can stain, and delicate knitted sweaters are easily snagged
We have some basic basketry tools available for everyone to use during the sessions, but members are encouraged to purchase their own if they are able. We also have a reference library of basketry-related books, and everyone is welcome to spend some time looking at these during the sessions. Everyone planning to attend is asked to book their place at least ten days before each session to allow time for soaking enough willow for everyone and to ensure that enough spaces are available.
Photographs are occasionally taken for use on our website and social media. If this is a problem for anyone, please let us know.
All Northumbria Basketry Group’s local groups are run by their members in a voluntary capacity, and unlike classes or workshops, there is no tutor available to provide ongoing supervision and assistance. Instead, everyone helps each other. In order for new members to gain the most enjoyment from the group, and for the sake of the other members, it is therefore important that everyone has a basic knowledge of basketry techniques when they start attending.
For this reason, we ask anyone hoping to join the group who does not have any previous basketry experience to attend at least one two-day workshop for beginners. You can usually find several of these listed on the Northumbria Basketry Group website’s ‘What's On’ page. If you also sign up to the mailing list, you will be notified about future workshops and other events as soon as they are publicised.
If you would like further information about joining our group, please get in touch.
