Hand, Rush and Weave 

​Down by the waterside wind whispers through the reeds rustling up ancient histories.

Bolts of rushes harvested from along the River Barrow.

Common Club-rush (Scirpus lacustris) grows profusely along slow moving rivers and canals. Curiosity about the plant led me to a forgotten heritage craft – rush weaving. Creative hands, I discovered, can fashion rush into a myriad of items from mats, chair seats and baskets to hats, shoes and vessels of all kind. A world of opportunity invited me to explore. 
​The images below represent some of the pieces I wove from a harvest of rushes in 2023.