Most baskets are made from willow, cane, rush or bamboo but it is quite possible to make
a basket using a surprising variety of natural materials. None of the
materials in the baskets are dyed they are all the natural colours of
the barks of many different species. The rods are collected in the winter
when the sap is down, left to mellow in a shady area of the garden for
a short while and then woven before they become brittle ; this can be
days, weeks, or even months, depending on the material.