Volunteers Needed

Northumbria Basketry Group members operate several plots for growing willow throughout our region, producing a wide variety of rods for use in self-help groups and personal use. At some sites, volunteers assist with the cutting, sorting, and bundling of rods for sale. Recent discussions have highlighted that extending this practice to all the sites would be helpful. The practice is win/win, as the volunteers learn about growing willow and the differences between varieties and get access to purchase bundles of rods. The site operator gets help with a labour-intensive process, and the time spent harvesting is less.

This article lists several sites, and we may add more later. The site details include the location of the site and the person to contact to have your name added to the site volunteers list.

Borders

Location –  Craik Forest, Roberton, Hawick, TD9 7PS.

Contact – Tamsin Growden, borders@northumbriabasketrygroup.co.uk

Output – used by Borders self-help group at Bowden

Coquet Valley

Location – Chester Hope, near Ryehill.

Contact – Alan Winlow, info@northumbriabasketrygroup.co.uk

Output – sold to self-help groups, NBG members, and the public. Proceeds subsidise beginners’ training, tools, group equipment, etc.

NB The attached image shows bundles of Calliantha rods grown this year at Chester Hope. Labels will be added to the bundles before they are moved into the store.

Tees Valley

Location – Thornton Grange Farm, Thornton, Middlesborough TS8 9BZ

Contact – Jane Chapman teesvalley@northumbriabasketrygroup.co.uk

Output – used by Tees Valley self-help group

NBG Member - Lancelot Robson

Location – Lancelot has two sites, one at Longhorsley Wood, NE65 8UJ

and the other at Nisbet Rhodes, Duns, TD11 3HT

Contact – Lancelot Robson l.robson22@gmail.com

Anticipated start date for harvesting - after 21st December

Output – sales to members and for self-use

NBG Member - Anna Turnbull

Location - Biteabout Farm, Lowick, Berwick Upon Tweed TD15 2QE

Contact - Anna Turnbull annaturnbull@ymail.com

Output - Self-Use and Teaching