Oxfordshire Basketmakers 

Both Charlotte and Andy love making baskets! We are both part of the great community of Oxfordshire Basketmakers, who offer a wealth of resources, expertise and short courses with basketry pioneers from across the world. Andy trained back in the 1990s with a professional maker in Norfolk and firmly "sticks" to willow baskets and loves to learn new techniques, Charlotte made her first ever wicker basket on an Oxfordshire Basketmakers course, and is privileged since to have been tutored by Mary Butcher MBE at City Lit. She takes a more eclectic approach to her choice of materials. Through Oxfordshire Basketmakers we have been lucky enough to learn from luminaries such as Joe Hogan, Tim Johnson, Adrian Charlton and Norio Hosawa.

Wood Farm

The wonderful Wood Farm no-dig small holding is host to Charlotte and Andy's largest willow coppice and tree planting scheme to date, thanks to the benevolence of master craftsman and waggon maker Paul, and his green-fingered no-dig family.

A superb episode of Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Season 10 Episode 2) sees Paul restoring a vintage circus waggon, and read more via South East Farmer here.

Vincent's Wood 

Thanks to farming with nature custodian Robert Crocker we have started to work at Vincent’s Wood (hear about Robert’s wonderful work with restoring hedgerows on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today). A beautiful small wood in Freeland with an amazing display of bluebells in the spring. Charlotte and Andy have been invited to coppice the 100+ hazel trees, annually cutting back a section of the hazel to allow re-growth and a burst of new life and bio-diversity each year. The hazel is excellent material for projects and multiple uses, both strong and flexible, and the twigs make beautiful addition to pieces. The woods are accessed from Freeland village or a longer route up from Eynsham  - see map

Warwickshire Willow

Naturally grown willow of many lovely varieties grown by Clare Shivlock on her family farm.

Oxford City Farm

Growing food and growing communitiy in the heart of Oxford city - and now growing willow!

Penny Maltby Maker, aka The Ministry of Straw

Visual artist and straw worker Penny Maltby has not only inspired us, but even tutored for us at Craft Club, we’re looking forward to running more courses and workshops with her in 2022.

Peace Oak

At the heart of this 2 acre community orchard is a 100+ year old oak tree, planted to commemorate the end of the first World War. A shared growing space in the centre of Eynsham village, providing an area for friends and families to come together. Andy and Charlotte grow willow on Peace Oak and organise willow projects and activities, and enjoy the lovely teaching space and skilled network of expert growers, makers and volunteers.

Eynsham Nature Recovery Network

The Nature Recovery Network launched a few years ago is an inspiration, creating a blueprint for the community, councils, business and organisations to work together to survey, protect and restore nature in all its forms. Andy and Charlotte have been active members of Eynsham Nature Recovery Network, setting up a hazel coppice in Freeland, planting willow coppices and trees in Eynsham and Finstock. 

David Knight Spoon Carving

David Knight is an ecologist and conservationist with a special interest in bringing woodland into active management and, by extension, in green wood working. A skilled spoon carver we will be running courses with David in 2021, and are grateful for his time and expertise on our Vincent Wood Coppice.

The Mythakulon

Story creation, woodland wisdom and an exchange of fables for acorns: The Mythakulon is a project which authors, collaborates and invites contribution of stories in exchange for a currency of oaklings, fusing the mythology of ancient oaks with ongoing stewardship of land.

Wychwood Forest Trust

The Wychwood Forest Trust is a multi-faceted conservation charity working to conserve and restore natural landscapes and wildlife habitats in West Oxfordshire. They also hold a fantastic Forest Fair annually where we are pleased to host a stall.

Eynsham Online

All things Eynsham, organized indefatigably, and great supporters of community and biodiversity projects!

The Basketmakers’ Association

Home for all those interested in the craft of basketry, offering courses, bursaries, opportunities to learn, enjoy the craft and meet likeminded makers.

Rogue Designs 

Charlotte is an interior architect, designer and furniture designer when not working in the woods, alongside partner Paul Turner as co-designer is a fine artist, and a furniture maker, bringing a multi-disciplinary background of experience to the Willow Coppice venture.

Welsh Lavender

Makers of the fabulous Farmers’ brand of balms and creams set on the high on the hills of Wales. Where you can visit and stay. Also host to our first planting of willow.

Wytham Woods

Wytham Woods is an ancient semi-natural woodland, which has been owned and maintained by the University of Oxford since 1942. Its 1000 acres are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and are one of the most researched pieces of woodland in the world.

Wytham Woods is on our doorstep and provides an amazing rich protected woodland, we love to visit and sometimes run in the wood. Andy organises RunWythamWoods 10K and family mile running race fundraiser for the local primary school where his children attend.

Hill End

A wonderful setting on the Wytham estate, providing outdoor education for schools and organised groups, set in 67 acres of beautiful countryside with facilities for residential, classroom and outdoor education and training. Andy has volunteered at Hill End for almost 10 years, helping manage the willow, create sculptural interventions, and run training courses on working with willow. 

Woodland Trust

Probably the most important woodland charity in the country. Amazing resource, knowledge base, and bestower of grants.

Photographers Workshop

This is lovely Keith Barnes photographer, who can set up a pop-up studio in a jiffy and photography literally anything!

Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum

Oxford Botanic Garden, the oldest botanic garden in the UK, founded on July 25th 1621. Established as the Oxford Physic Garden for growing medicinal plants used to teach medical students, the Garden was the birthplace of botanical sciences at Oxford. Harcourt Arboretum is as magical place with 130 acres of the world’s rare and endangered trees.

Local Businesses

We’ve been supported by local businesses. Thanks to Garden Designers David at Monsieur Jardin Designs for willow variety contributions, and to Nina at Bug Design who we’re excited about working with! The Market Garden organic wholefoods and cafe, and Cornucopia Cooks.