Last week all the children at school worked on a willow project with visiting environmental artist Mary Cross. Children learnt how to weave an individual item such as a bird feeder, fish or star. They also worked together to plant a living willow hedge or ‘fedge’. This fedge will form the boundary to Shoscombe School’s new Forest School area. Children will use this area for a variety of exciting outdoor learning experiences linked to the curriculum.

 We also learnt about the history of willow farming on the Somerset levels, and about the various uses of willow over the past 100 years.

 It was surprising to learn about how willow played an important part in both World Wars, as willow baskets were used to transport the pigeons that carried vital messages at the war front.

We are really grateful to the parents and members of the local community who gave their time to help with the willow days.

We were able to cover the costs through our current Comenius project. Our Comenius ‘100 Project’ links Shoscombe with partner schools across Europe. Each school is researching their local history of the past 100 years. Research is shared using digital technology and also through exchange visits. Sophie Hampton

 Mary Cross can be contacted via www.organic-matters.co.uk