A WILLOW worker is to build on the interest generated during Somerset Arts Week with a series of half-day workshops at the Sunday School Rooms next to Lopen Church.

Jo Mills will host the workshops during November and December, focusing on willowwork for the garden and Christmas decorations.

Jo sources her willow from willow-growers Musgrove Willows of Westonzoyland, a family-run business, which dates back to the 1920s.

During last winter’s floods, for the first time in living memory, all its willow beds were under water, some in the Curry Moor and Hay Moor area as much as six feet.

This disrupted the harvest but luckily willow is resilient and Musgrove says the willow is growing well this year, no doubt helped by the warm summer and autumn.

Jo said: “After a few years off making baskets and other willow things I was inspired to start making again so I could support the willow industry.

“The floods were so awful I wanted to do my bit by buying Somerset-grown willow and helping to keep the businesses on the Levels going.”

All the classes can be booked directly with Jo either by email (jomillsbaskets@tiscali.co.uk) or phone (01460 241886).

Course dates and times: Thursday, November 13, 10am1pm, Garden Climbers, Cloches and Fans (£35); Thursday, November 13, 2-4pm, Garden Insects and Bird Feeders (£30); Sunday, November 23, 2-4pm Christmas I: Stars and Circles (£30); Wednesday, December 3, 10am-1pm, Christmas II: Trees and Angels (£35)