Basketry Willow Bed Work Volunteer Sessions

Managing basketry willow beds at Lauriston Farm - ongoing throughout the year, 2026.

Sat 14th February, 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm

Sun 15th February, 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm

future dates- tbc

Book here: volunteersignup.org/K889C

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

This year, 2026, we will do the first full harvest of the the new 'perfect, model' willow bed, planted in 2024 through ecotex mulch mat. We will weed around the edges and amongst the plants and infill any further cuttings that have not taken, though I think this will be minimal if at all, as we did this last season. This bed produced an incredible amount of growth in its first year and now, after its second full year of growth, it has what I would call a full harvest (earlier than anticipated) 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 didn't come to much- so, more weeding and strimming, and such to get the willows to get away ahead of the grasses. I plan to cut the bulk of this bed on a long leg/ low pollard, to have the new growth each year coming up above the weedline. I may decide to make this intial higher cut this year (2026), or may decide it's best to wait till next year so that the plants all have a lot of strength in them. These willows are larger varieties, "Norfolks" and "Harrisons".
In March 2025 we pollarded the 3 year old 'Carl Jensen' willow which is at the East end, at a height of 3', so I think this will be ready for its first proper harvest this year.

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!