We are delighted to launch a new resource for schools and community groups – funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and with thanks to all National Lottery players – “Heritage in a Basket” – the loan of a heritage fishing basket with roleplay items for children inside. Dress up as a fisherman, gut the fish like the herring girls, catch your fish in a net, take a photo of yourself for the fishing gallery. A real herring basket (a swill or a cran) are included in the loan as well as the teaching resources described below. These baskets are now almost extinct and usually only seen in museums. Please contact us to book the “Heritage in a Basket” – email us at thenestprojectcommunityart@gmail.com (there is a charge of £100 for 2 weeks’ loan to cover delivery and pick up).

Alongside the baskets, we have launched online resources available on TES; activity plans, videos (in English and BSL), links to websites, everything you need to put on a heritage event with your school or group – using our resources you could even re-enact the Great Yarmouth Fish Fayre with maritime flags, willow weaving, singing and dancing!

Development of the project

Willow is natural and sustainable – and steeped in East Anglian history and heritage. In the first part of the 20th century, the towns of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth were full of willow baskets (swills and crans) used in the fishing industry to hold, measure and sell herring. These baskets are now endangered, so the project aimed to connect people to the rich working class history of their area, giving children and their families a sense of place and pride in their heritage.

A grant from Arts Council England in 2023 enabled us to research heritage willow basket making in Norfolk and take the beautiful and sustainable craft of willow weaving to communities across Norfolk and Suffolk. A subsequent grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2024 allowed us to build on the project, enabling us to specifically engage with 5 schools and their wider communities. We also ran heritage events for teachers which included training on how to include heritage in the classroom, giving them tools, activities and resources to do so. As you can see from the photo below, The National Lottery Heritage Fund project was really successful at helping communities engage with the heritage of the swill and cran baskets, allowing people to develop a sense pride in their local area. The project was very hands on! Swill and cran baskets were shown and were able to be held and touched, everyone had a go at willow weaving, singing sea shanties, and dancing the “Strip the Willow”!

Finally, we have prepared a report on the project with a background to how we approached it and our insights, recommendations and conclusions. We hope this will be of use and interest to anyone considering applying for grants for heritage projects. Please the video report below: