Learn a centuries-old river craft on the Kew towpath this October
2 October 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
Three free hands-on workshops are coming to the Kew towpath this month, giving volunteers the chance to learn willow spiling — a traditional technique that uses woven willow to shore up eroding riverbanks, slow water flow and create habitat for fish, insects and birds.
The sessions, hosted by the Thames Landscape Strategy, take place on Tuesdays 6, 13 and 20 October, from 10am to 2pm. Participants should meet at the end of Old Palace Lane, where it meets the towpath. No experience is required, and all tools, materials and guidance are provided on the day.
The willow structures built during the sessions will be living ones: as the willow takes root and grows, it will continue to stabilise the bank naturally, delivering long-term benefits for the river's resilience and wildlife. It is practical conservation in the most literal sense — craft skills put directly to work in a local landscape.
Volunteers are welcome to attend one session or all three. Given how close the Kew stretch of the Thames is to Barnes, this is an accessible option for residents keen to contribute to the river environment they walk and cycle past regularly.
Full information is available on Richmond Council's website.