29-04-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
New York-inspired cathedral built in Scotland's fastest growing town
The 85-acre green space is formed from the reclamation of a landfill site in Winchburgh in West Lothian.
The cathedral was built over two days by 50 volunteers and was deigned by Deeside Willow in conjunction with local residents.
John West is a co-founder of the Winchburgh Community Growing Group who helped coordinate the build, said the team faced several big challenges in building the cathedral and was constructed using 20ft strips of willow and includes 300 harlequin plans and a seating area around the birch tree.
The Willow Cathedral (Image: David Johnstone) He said: 'It's totally bespoke and a unique design and the biggest structure Deeside Willow has ever built.
'We sketched a design featuring 14 pillars of willow which connect to two central rings and it was tricky because we had to incorporate the birch tree into the design.'
The structure is inspired by a similar building in New York City and has already become a focal point for visitors to the park.
John continued: 'This used to be just a barren piece of muddy ground but it's now been transformed and this year it's really taking shape.
'You see people coming into the park, playing in the park, and then coming purposely into the garden just to have a seat in the cathedral, and admire it. It's well used. It's attracting people, it's the biggest feature in the whole park.
'We are hoping it will make a nice canopy and a place to sit if you want a bit of shade; it's also a nice quiet place. You could read a book or just take in the wildlife.
'It's positioned deliberately in that part of the park because there's a nice, curved path that goes round it; it's also the kind of place where if you wanted to, you could get away from the hustle and bustle. It's a very tranquil corner of the garden.'
The building will have a practical purpose too by providing a place for the community to come together while a vegetable patch has been created around the nearby pond and classes and workshops will be held in the building.
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Nik Millott, who runs Deeside Willow with his wife Katie, said the cathedral was an unusual and challenging project.
He said: 'It's the first willow cathedral we've built and the biggest project we've ever undertaken, and I haven't seen anything in Scotland like the size of the structure in Winchburgh.
'Obviously, we needed to make sure we were anchoring in the main pillars of the structure because of the wind. It was really important that we got it deep enough to stand up to the wind.
'We feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with the Winchburgh Growing Group – it's an amazing development. To see the living willow structure and the smiles on people's faces, and the interest it's creating in the park as well, that fills us with joy. And it's not me putting the willow in the ground, it's the residents of Winchburgh and that's what makes it extra special.'
