Wild Willow Art Club: Wildflower Arranging and Handcrafted Vases

This hands-on workshop invites children to explore the art of flower arranging and vase-making, while appreciating the vibrant summer garden at OmVed. The activity will begin with a guided tour of the garden’s wildflower beds and curated borders, where children will observe plants grown for their beneficial properties and even taste some edible flowers along the way.

Children will learn to thoughtfully forage for flowers, grasses, and herbs, considering colours, textures, and shapes while respecting the ecosystem and leaving plenty for pollinators. They’ll then craft their own handmade vase from air-dried clay, recycled jam jars, and tins, personalising them with designs like microbeasts, floral reliefs, and pressed leaves.

Once their vases are complete, children will dive into the basics of flower arranging, experimenting with height, proportion, and colour to create vibrant, balanced arrangements that showcase their unique creativity.

To conclude, we’ll visit the compost area to learn about the transformation of organic waste into nutrient-rich soil, discovering the vital role of composting creatures and bacteria in enriching the garden.

Each child will take home their own vase and floral arrangement, celebrating their creativity and connection to nature.

The Wild Willow Art Club is designed for children aged 6 to 12, with each child requiring an accompanying adult. Sessions will take place both indoors and outdoors, so please dress children comfortably in clothes that can get messy with art materials. The garden can be hot, cold or muddy, so layers and sturdy footwear are recommended.

There is a maximum group size of up to 16 attendees for our willow art sessions.

3 Top Skills Children Will Learn

• Clay Modeling:
  Children will develop fine motor skills and creativity by shaping and decorating clay, focusing on intricate details like microbeasts, mushrooms, and flowers.

• Floral Design:
  Children will learn the basics of flower arranging, experimenting with height, proportion, and colour to create balanced and visually engaging compositions using foraged materials.

• Botanical Knowledge: 
  Children will deepen their connection to nature by learning to identify plants and discovering their beneficial uses during a guided garden tour.

About the host:

Corrie Wingate is an artist and arts facilitator based in North London.

After traveling across Africa as a documentary photographer and developing a passion for community arts, she founded Kids Create Kenya, an art centre and artist residency at a children’s home on Lamu Island. Now in its 11th year, the centre provides a creative space where children and young adults can express themselves through art.

Since 2020, Corrie has been part of the garden and kitchen team at Omved, where she now facilitates nature-based art programs for children and adults, helping others connect with creativity and the natural world.

@corriewingate @kidscreatekenya

About OmVed Gardens:

OmVed Gardens is a garden, exhibition, events, and learning space in North London dedicated to exploring the connections between food, ecology and creativity for health and climate resilience. We are on a mission to inspire ecological awareness and action, and deepen our understanding of interconnectedness with the natural world.

As a registered Community Interest Company, all our activities prioritise social and ecological objectives. Whether collaborating with chefs, creatives, gardeners, or schools, OmVed Gardens is a hub for education, connection, and action. We aim to inspire individuals and communities to reimagine their role in building a healthier, more resilient world.

We work to increase biodiversity - of species, seeds, food systems, and participation, through regenerative gardening, seed saving, habitat creation, and ecological education. Our space serves as a living example of how urban areas can be transformed into thriving ecosystems that support both human and non-human communities.

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Subsidised Tickets: We have a few reserved tickets at a subsidised rate. If this workshop is not monetarily accessible, please write to us at events@omvedgardens.com to avail yourself of a subsidised ticket rate. Subject to availability.

Refund Policy: Tickets are non-refundable, except in cases where a waiting list exists for the session. If the event is sold out, a refund may be considered if requested up to 10 days prior to the session date. Please write to us for any refund inquiries.