Spring in Lapland - 30th May

Sunny today, with a maximum temperature of 17 degrees.

1 Blue Tit around the cabin this morning, 2 Black-throated Divers on the lake, an Osprey flying around over the lake, 2 Hooded Crows flew over, 1 male Reed Bunting and 1 Common Lizard.

4 Perch in the fish trap this morning.

I washed my clothes this morning and then completed all the painting I wanted to do. I spent the rest of the day making items with the Birch bark.

I cut some of the bark into thin strips

I weaved the strips together to make a reasonable sized basket

I also made a large container, carved another cup

With the remaining pieces of bark, I made a sheath for my knife.

Fish/Crayfish trap

Using the skills I learned on the basket making course last week, I have now started making a fish/crayfish trap.




Finally completed the trap today (Thursday 8th) and just need to test it now.

The cone was the most difficult part to construct.

A basket made while out walking

Today while out for a walk, I collected a variety of natural materials suitable for use in making a simple basket.


I used willow wands twisted together to make the frame of the basket and Reed Mace/Bull Rush leaves (see picture below) woven to form the basket.

Willow basket making course

This weekend I ran a basket making course with quest instructor Jo Hammond. We used various sizes of Willow withys to make the baskets. The willow had been harvested last winter, stored dry and then soaked in water for a few days prior to the course.

Here is Jo teaching students how to start making a basket


and here are some of the baskets made on the course.

Birch Bark

Birch bark is an amazing material to work with. Unfortunately the quality of bark in the UK is not good so I collect mine from either Canada or Lapland. I have used it to make some really nice baskets and knife sheaths. If you do not have Birch bark available, strips of cereal packets make a really good substitute.