Springfield Park Woodland Festival

Springfield Park Woodland Festival

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Springfield Park played host to the annual Woodland Festival today (Sunday 15 September) demonstrating woodland craft to visitors.

The festival has been running for over ten years and invites visitors to explore a variety of woodland crafts and home made food and included chainsaw art, willow weaving, bodging, home made jam and children’s activities.

Sue Southward, Countryside Warden, said: “People come from all over for the festival.

“We had a willow weaving course yesterday but the festival is usually a one day event for people to come along to.”

Mamu, from Mamu’s Greenwood Crafts had a stall at the festival demonstrating his traditional bodging skills. He said: “Its nice to show how a woodland can be used for other things.”

Mamu uses green wood to create a variety of things including butter knives, pencils and children’s toys. “This is my first time at this festival but it’s a nice little event to be involved in,” he said.

Sue Pasquerella, who was involved with the willow weaving sessions, said: “I attended the festival three years ago in Middleton and it was a really good day. It's just a shame about the weather today.”

The willow weaving group held a session yesterday (Saturday 14 September) and planned for a full day at the festival today. Sue added: “The things we have made take a couple of days to put together but it is really fascinating to do.”

Chainsaw art was also on show at the festival. Sue Southward added: “He was inspired by the golf course yesterday and made a birdie on a golf ball.”

Everything at the festival was handmade and the skills used to make many of the pieces were also being demonstrated to visitors.

The Friends of Springfield Park were also involved in organising this year’s festival.

The festival is held every year at alternate venues and will return to Hollingworth lake Country Park next year.