It’s hard to ask for help. Pride, perhaps mixed with the certain knowledge that the help we might request is for work that is hard, cold and pretty dull. On many occasions over the last few years however, visitors have suggested we tell them when we need a hand; but we’ve not been good at asking.This year we did and things turned out […]
Despite the blooming cold weather and very un-British snow sitting on the ground for a week, we have made a lot of progress cutting willow over the last couple of days. Armed with a new (well second-hand), power scythe, bought from a lovely bloke in Bury St. Edmonds, cutting has speeded up compared with previous years.The wind picked […]
We’re doing a bit of experimental work making willow ‘fascines ‘ for a potential client in Cambridgeshire. This is an interesting diversion and work so far suggests that we will be able do the business using a mix of living sallow, Salix caprea, and a couple of our plantation-grown willows (species and varieties yet to […]
In September I was asked to visit a very beautiful garden near St Albans to talk about a couple of jobs. Here was a gardener with great taste and some clear ambitions to create something lovely. I was flattered to be asked to make a contribution; flattered and a little nervous. A large square sand pit needed a […]
Sometimes I wonder what we’re doing and probably why too. In a fit of enthusiasm, late in the summer, I agreed to supply willow “once the leaves have dropped, in late November”. You would have thought that after nearly ten years growing willow, I would know when leaves fall off the stuff. But of course […]
I’m talking to Biddenham Gardeners’ Association on Tuesday evening and thought I should have something willowy to take with me so I’ve been out cutting a bit of willow and used it to finish a couple of balls I started a while ago. It’s too early for this really – I’ve spent quite a while pulling leaves […]
I delivered some beef to a customer a couple of days ago, for whom I did some work earlier in the year. It was lovely to see her again and great to see the willow fence we built and to hear how pleased she is with it. As predicted when we discussed the project in July 2011, […]
Monday evening saw Hexton WI step over the border into Bedfordshire and venture as far as Gravenhurst. We were delighted to welcome to the farm, a dozen wonderful women who were interested, funny, challenging and generous with their enthusiasm for what we are doing. We started out with a bit of a chat and a lot of […]
Jane’s busy at the moment, running kids’ holiday events at the Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine and last Wednesday, a family event called Run Wild, for the Greensand Trust at Ampthill Park. Seems like everything went well. Apparently 90 kids on Thursday at Marston, all making giant sunflowers and sundials and amazingly, the sun shone for […]
Yesterday, Martin Hazell proved that he is actually an excellent basket maker and an equally splendid teacher, rather than just a crazy melodian playing gad-about. Taking part in a day’s tuition in making what is one of the simplest styles of basket, proved to me that like many crafts, it looks pretty easy but is in fact very […]