CHERITON Ladies' Evening Organisation's monthly meeting took place in the Parish Hall, where our speaker was Richard Kerwood, a Willow worker from Windrush.

He explained how he had formerly been a salesman, but then turned to growing and weaving Willow, together with his wife Sue.

Willow has been grown in this country for 850 years, where the climate is temperate and wet.

It is one of the oldest crafts - in 1830 there were 17,000 basket makers, now there are very few.

Willow has been used for many purposes, including garden stakes, fences, and for fish farms around the River Avon.  There are 160 varieties, each one suitable for a different use.  For example, unstripped willow is used outdoors, but for making furniture and baskets, it is usually stripped.  It is also famous for producing salicylic acid, which produces a kind of aspirin, and for fuel.

Richard demonstrated simple plant supports, which we all had a go at, with varying degrees of success.  Several people came away with beautiful baskets sold by Sue.

Our April Meeting will be at 7.30pm tomorrow, Tuesday, April 4 in Cheriton Fitzpaine Parish Hall.

The subject is "Hiding in Plain Sight" - a talk on Adult Literacy by Elly Babbedge.

Mary Nunn