Willows for Schools

Create an oasis of willow in your school grounds or garden

Wondertree is a partnership run by Kevin and Sheena Lindegaard. We design and plant willow gardens or structures for our clients. These include schools, gardens, environmental charities and businesses.

Willows are amazing plants. They grow very quickly and can be used in many ways.  We have created a number of inspirational willow plot designs that simultaneously provide green play areas and a renewable resource of materials for art, craft and gardening projects.

Children’s imaginations are stimulated by our willow plots; they love making things from the flexible coloured stems and pussy willows and learn about plant life and the environment.

Ten or more different willow varieties with different coloured stems and leaves are used in the planting scheme. Each year the pliant willow rods can be cut down and used. After harvest the willows grow back and provide plenty of material for each new class of children to use, year after year.

We have a number of off the shelf designs but also can work with our clients to create a unique design that fits in with the space available. 

Commissioned works include:

  • A fountain at WesthoverGreenPrimary School, Somerset
  • A snake at RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire
  • A spiral galaxy at Carymoor Environmental Centre, Somerset
  • A Boeing 737 at EastMidlandsAirport
  • A star at Westfield Farm, Somerset
  • An arc at RHS Hyde Hall, Essex

Other possibilities include a musical scale, a rhombus, a caterpillar, a spider, a butterfly, and a propeller but the range is unlimited.

How it works

  • We visit your site and discuss options
  • We put together 2-3 draft designs that fit in with your current site layout and you choose the preferred option
  • We mark out the design
  • We provide all the materials and willow
  • We co-ordinate the willow planting and get the children involved too
  • We put on a workshop activity for the children making willow stars and hoops
  • We provide advice throughout the first growing season

We can also harvest your willows during winter and provide refresher courses on how to use the willow.

101 things to do with willows

As part of our service we provide a CD which includes detailed instructions on 101 things to do with willows. These cover a wealth of subjects including:

  • Art and crafts
  • Gardening and horticulture
  • Sustainability and the environment
  • Survival skills and primitive ways

You can use the willow to make Christmas decorations and wreaths, a heart for Valentine's Day, an Easter tree or a magic wand for Halloween. 

Testimonial

Many thanks for all your hard work. The children loved the day planting and they are all fiercely protective of the willow they planted. Plum and Mulberry classes were so delighted with their decorated willow stars, that we have now created hoops, flowers, butterflies and hearts which will be displayed in class. It has been a fantastic experience.

Richard Coath, WesthoverGreenPrimary School