Peat Basket Workshop

Peat Basket Workshop with Jeanette Gray

What can a basket tell us about the landscape in which it was made?

In communities where peat was gathered for fuel, baskets developed in response to both the work they needed to do and the materials available close at hand. In remote places especially, basketmaking reflects a close knowledge of local plants, resources and ways of working.

Drawing on Jeanette Gray’s recent research into peat-carrying baskets and basket traditions in Scotland, particularly the Northern Isles, this workshop explores the relationship between landscape, material, necessity and form. It also connects these traditions back to the peatland landscapes of Wales, including the Dyfi area where Jeanette lives and works.

Participants will make a miniature basket inspired by traditional peat-carrying forms, using techniques found in basket traditions across the UK.

Alongside the practical making, we will consider how baskets can act as records of place: shaped by what grows locally, what people needed to carry, and the knowledge developed through living and working within particular landscapes.

Developed in response to Manon Awst and Dylan Huw’s Sownd, the workshop offers a hands-on way to explore some of the project’s wider themes around peatland, material, place and cultural memory.

No previous basketmaking experience is required. All materials and tools will be provided.

Workshop length: Full day
Ability: No previous experience required
Age: Adults / 16+