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| The Willow Tunnel |
The original idea for this project came from Committee member, Anne Butcher who is also on the Board of Governors.
In April 2004 the school had recently been refurbished and were about to start work on the outside play area.
We registered our community challenge and over the next months raised enough money to buy four kits.
We donated the money from our birthday meeting raffle, a member held a coffee morning in her garden and another did a decoupage demonstration.
Part of the proceeds from our Autumn mini market went to the project as did the money raised by a soup and desert lunch in January.
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| The plaque reads: "The children of this school wish to thank Lyndhurst Women's Institute for the very kind donation of this willow tunnel. Spring 2005." |
Due to the schools’ OFSTED inspection work on the willow tunnel was delayed until March.
The willow was supplied by Windrush Willow in Devon who had arranged with the carriers, TNT, that it would be delivered on Friday, 4 March.
The day winter arrived! Roads were blocked by snow, TNT had three drivers off sick and the willow failed to arrive.
To cut a very long story short, by Monday, 11 March the willow had arrived and a willing band of WI members were at the school, eager to start.
We interpreted the instructions in our own way and over the next few days constructed an eight metre long, serpentine willow tunnel.
The highlight came on Wednesday morning when every child in the school weaved in their own willow rod. WI member Edna Morey was helped by her grand-daughter, aptly named Willow!
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| The Willow Tunnel |
My thanks to all the members of our Institute who raised funds for the project and especially the construction team, Liz, Anne, Lesley, Pat, Sally, Joan, Betty and Edna.
They gave their time with so much enthusiasm
and good humour. I would also like to thank the staff of Lyndhurst Infants School who gave us permission to build the tunnel and provided us with coffee in their lovely, newly painted staff room.
Liz Galton, President
Footnote: The tunnel is growing so well it has already had a trim! |
