Easy step by step instructions to make a wonderful chicken wire sculpture shaped into a moss and succulent toadstool.
Readers who follow us on Instagram will know that we have seen lots of amazing garden sculptures recently. First, during our visit to the wonderful Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury, where both the formal and woodland gardens are home to some wonderful pieces, and since, at the incredible Elemental Sculpture Park, Somerford Keynes.
From start to finish, our chicken wire sculpture only took about half an hour to complete. It is super easy to make, and really does look fabulous. I plan to move it to a more shaded area of the garden, and hope that it will continue to grow and develop over time.
For more garden craft inspiration check out our Concrete Hand Sculptures, our Garden Art made from succulents and our cute Succulent Hedgehog Planter.
And for more living sculpture ideas take a look at the amazing Willow Wand which is another beautiful piece of living art.
58 comments
Hey Sarah
I have just come across this tutorial and absolutely love the mossy mushroom! Do you have any more recent photos to see how it looked once the succulents grew? I assume the chicken wire became less visible as the plants took over?
Thanks for the inspiration!
I’m afraid I don’t George, but yes the succulents will multiple and cover the head if left to their own devices :)
Im gonna try it.
So please Jennifer – would love to see a photo when you do :)
I adore this project and can’t wait to try it out this summer.
Thank you for your kind comment Valerie :)
I wonder if you occasionally spray it with a slightly watered down buttermilk solution as I have heard it helps moss grown on objects that would perk it up and help it grown during dry,spells? It looks lovely and I would like to try something a little smaller as I live in a condo with a small garden patch just outside my patio. Lovely.
Thanks for the tip Ann. I have heard of spraying it on pots to encourage lichen to grow but not thought of applying it directly to moss – I’ll have to try it out!
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This is so cute and so “British” – I went to visit back in the early 80’s and fell in love with all things “Britain” especially the gardens and woodland areas. Wish I had the money to come back.
You are so right Rhonda :) I love the ‘greeness’ of our countryside – I always miss it of I visit another country!
Wow this is so creative! I love it! Out of interest how did you get on with it over the summer?
The moss has browned in some places, but the succulents are still alive so I think it’ll green up again over the winter :)
When it begins to dry….mix green food coloring with water…put in spray bottle…and squirt away! I do this annually to some of my moss creations!
That’s a fab idea Debbie, thanks so much for stopping by and sharing it with us x
Sarah this is really cute. I have never seen anything like it before and certainly wouldn’t know how to make one if you hadn’t shown us. They make a lovely addition to any garden. Thanks for providing us with some sweet inspiration.
Thank you Mary, it really was a simple make (which are always the best sort!) got a few other ideas to try when I get a spare few minutes :)
I’ve never seen this idea before, looks really effective! Hope it stays lovely & green over the Summer :) #trash2treasure
Thanks, we were really pleased with how it turned out – we might try some animals next :)
Sarah this is brilliant, how fab would this look in my fairy gardens? I wonder what will happen to the moss over time? Will it shrivel or hold it’s shape and brown, do share what happens to it over the summer. It looks amazing right now and ready for minibeasts and fairies to play. Thank you for sharing on #Trash2Treasure. Is that my badge gone squiffy at the top?
Apologies about the badge – no idea what happened there. Would be gorgeous in your fairy gardens – will let you know how it fares over the summer. Jenny suggested making caves which would be great as well, so am going to make some of them next x
Yes caves is fun too, stick person’s tea party inside. The ideas are endless!
You do the coolest projects with the kids, I love this! I’ve never seen anything like it before and love that you can do it yourself with a few supplies. Yours is shaped really cool and I love that it’s sitting in the middle of the bluebells. What a fun project! It turned out great.
Thanks Nikki, I have a thing about moss so I love it – do you get much moss over in your part of the States?
Aww, this is so cool! You could easily make a little house for the kids to play in with their toys, or even a cave?! Love how well your mushroom turned out! Thanks for linking up to #HowtoSunday :) x
A cave is a brilliant idea, it might be something that the wildlife would enjoy too – I’m going to try that next. Thanks Jenny x
I love this Sarah. I have a shady place at the bottom of the garden where something like this would be perfect.
#Trash2Treasure
Would love to see a photo if you try it Shaz :)
If it comes off I will Sarah :D
Oh this is gorgeous! What a lovely idea, I might try this myself. It’s great that you mentioned being careful about the moss too, I don’t think people always realise that it can take some time to grow and should be protected.
People can be really thoughtless about what they pick and where from. Although we do forage we are really mindful about protecting our wonderful environment. Let me know if you try it Cliona :)
Wow this is awe-inspiring! I can’t believe it only took you about half an hour. My son has something of an obsession with chicken wire sculptures at the moment (don’t ask – I blame CBBC!), but he’d love to try this I’m sure. Thanks for sharing on #HowToSunday
Tell your son if he sends us photos of his sculptures we will put them up on the blog, and let us know if he tries our toadstool :)
Love that toadstool sculpture! Would like to do something like this, but I’m afraid it won’t be anything like yours :(
Honestly Dean it was really simple to make – yours would be great, just try it and see:)
This is brilliant, you really have a skill there!
Thanks Danny, we’re really pleased with how it turned out :)
This is fantastic, and sounds much easier to make than I thought it would be! I’d love to give this a go one day
Thanks for linking up to #BloggerClubUK :)
Debbie
It really was easy to make Debbie, let us know if you give it a go :)
You are so creative! Looks gorgeous! I wouldn’t have thought of using chicken wire. Thanks for sharing with #PasstheSauce
Thank you. Chicken wire is brilliant as its so easy to shape. Thanks for having us x
So magically beautiful, love it!
Thank you, there’s something really special about moss isn’t there?
I love this idea! I never thought about using chicken wire and miss as yard decor! Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks Erin, I’ve thinking about what other shapes I could make now – maybe a cute little hedgehog :)
Awe!! So cute… this would look so cute at my house.
It really was easy to make Sarah, you should give it a go :)
How quaint and beautiful looking this is…and so much easier to make than I would have thought! It looks like it stepped right out of Alice in Wonderland, and would be inhabited by all manner of gnomes and faeries.
We have left room inside in case the faeries want to move in – my daughter was most insistent about that :)
What a fun idea! We just spent all of last weekend in the garden and something like this would have been so fun to do! My kids would love it. :)
It definitely has a magical look about it – let me know if you decide to try one with them :)
This whole idea is amazing and beautiful! What a special talent!
Thank you Stacy, but trust me I don’t have any special talents – everything we make on the blog anyone could do :)
Super cute!
Thanks Brittany, I am really pleased with how it turned out :)
Hi Sarah, how clever! I wouldn’t know where to start to create something like this, but you’ve made it sound so easy. I’m sure that your ornamental toadstool will continue to grow and make an interesting live garden ornament.
xx
Thank you Debbie. It really did turn out to be easier than I expected. Hoping to make quite a few more – it’s the sort of gardening I can cope with :)