Hazel, willow, beef and storytelling from Bedfordshire

If the Hat Fits…

Doing several things for a living results inevitably in getting labelled in different ways by different people, depending on how and where they come across you. Until our website picked up traffic, I sold our willow products at numerous farmers markets in the area and became known to many as ‘The Stick Man’. I am conscious of now being more ‘The Coppice Man’ and on a couple of occasions, I’ve been greeted enthusiastically with  “Ooh are you The Wicker Man?” Difficult to know exactly how to respond to that without reference to Edward Woodward (younger readers would need to look this up but will probably find the results disappointing).

Most in Gravenhurst I suspect, won’t even be aware of our coppicing and stick business; those activities are for the time being hidden from public view and certainly aren’t what identifies us locally. We are the ‘Cow Farmers’. And happy enough with that we are, for our Red Poll Cattle are the bit of the business people can hardly fail to notice if you ever walk from Upper Gravenhurst to Shillington or Meppershall via the public footpath network. A great friend and life-long vegetarian delights in introducing us, especially to other veggies as ‘The Cow People’. Sometimes I’ll moo and make horns with my index fingers.

I heard a well known actor claim recently to be shy by nature, which struck me as odd. Surely to stand on a stage alone in front of thousands of people must require an exhibitionist streak of immense proportions. But I’ve learned myself that I can get up in front of a large group of people and sing or talk. I’ve even enjoyed it! And that’s despite considering myself a shy person. So I recognize that paradox as a reality and have learned to play on it to overcome my shyness. I’ve found I can do it if I pretend to be someone else.

In long ago days when I mistakenly thought music might be a way to go and suffered appalling stage fright, a hat helped me to be someone who could stand on stage, rather than just me. Later, in more sensible work, I often found the hat ploy worked if the circumstances fitted – leading guided walks for example. But head ware, however sensible, brings eccentricity to an office, so that’s where a jacket and tie came in. You won’t have seen me in a tie but in the past I’ve used this curious uniform for confidence and have understood why politicians, news anchors and business people still cling to it.

The public speaking I’m doing now is all about our coppicing, stick and beef business. I talk to groups – WIs, gardening clubs, flower arrangers, allotment societies, Rotary Clubs and the like – about what we do and have found myself playing on being the Willow Man (if not the Wicker Man). I’ve reduced my uniform dependence to just a jacket and can easily justify that for being a terribly practical piece of clothing – loads of pockets and smarter than expected by my standards. My audiences seem to enjoy what I tell them, or at least they say they do (self doubt creeps in easily), and it’s a very direct and personal way to tell people about the things we do and sell. We charge a few pounds to cover costs and quite often many of my sample plant supports, brooms, charcoal and woven panels are sold by the end of the evening. Groups quite often fancy a reciprocal visit to the woods or farm, where we can show them what we do, where we do it, throw in a cup of tea, perhaps a cake and maybe some crafty activity of a summer’s evening. Then the hat returns and all is well.

If your group might like to invite me to talk to them, please get in touch. You’ll get a slightly scruffy old bloke wearing a jacket pretending to be someone he isn’t. Entertaining and informative nonetheless. Contact us on info@wassledine.co.uk 07794 013876

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