This Halloween instead of buying a mass produced plastic broomstick for your little witches why not engage them in making their own out of natural materials that will last well beyond the witching hour?

Here's how:

Materials/Tools:
 

*  Length of wood one to one and a half inches in the round and about 3.5 feet long (either hazel,       a bought wooden brush handle or doweling will do).

*  Strong twine or two soaked 3ft willow rods 

*  Drill with approx. 5mm drill bit (if you can get a hand drill your child can do this bit too!)

*  Secateurs.

*  Three to five bunches of heather or birch twigs.

Instructions:

Drill through the stick, two holes about two inches apart and about six inches from the bottom of the stick. The holes don't need to go all the way through but half to three quarters of the way through.

Poke the butt end of the willow rods into the holes so they stick out at right angles to the hazel. Pack the heather around the base of the stick then lash it on using the willow. Tuck the tip ends of the willow in, securely wrapping it around the lashing three or four times. This will dry hard and hold the heather in place.

If using twine, drill all the way through to secure the twine through the handle then wrap in the same way. 

The heather will now be lashed onto the handle in two places, trim it for neatness using secateurs or strong scissors.
Get cat and go….
 

If you know of any other budding witches, pass this email on….. you could even have a broomstick making night before the big event!