Basketry Willow Bed Work Volunteer Sessions

Managing basketry willow beds at Lauriston Farm - ongoing throughout the year, 2025.

Sat 10th May, 12- 4pm

Sun 27th April, 2-5pm

future dates- tbc

Book here: volunteersignup.org/977L7

Creating and managing basketry willow beds at Lauriston Farm Agroecology Co-op.

This year, 2025, we will weed around the edges and amongst the plants of the new 'perfect, model' willow bed, planted in 2024 through ecotex mulch mat. This bed produced an incredible amount of growth in its first year and is quite the teacher's pet, a fine example of a thriving one year rotation coppice bed. It is the bed closest to the polytunnels and market garden main area.

The original bed, planted in early 2022, is really weedy and our mulching efforts haven't come to much- so, more weeding, strimming, and such to get the willows to get away ahead of the grasses. We have just (Feb/ March 2025) pollarded the 3 year old 'Carl Jensen' willow which is at the East end, at a height of 3', and my plan is to pollard on a much shorter leg the other two varieties (Norfolks and Harrisons) at the other side of this earlier created bed.

It is my plan with these ongoing sessions that we will gather a group together each time, and if there is no work to do (😂) we can just have a nice time in the willow patch admiring their incredible growth and flexibility and colours, but by getting some sessions in the calendar we will keep on top of the weeds etc and the willow will thrive!

Please dress for the weather, much of the work will be kneeling, and bring gloves if you have them. You don't need to bring secateurs for any of the cutting work as I have plenty and I will have them nice and sharp.

Please don't feel you have to stay for all the slot you sign up for, likewise feel free to stay on for longer or sign up for mulitiple slots in the day!