The Basket Maker

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Introduction
A complete basket from 3000BC is in the British Museum. The Somerset Levels are the main UK wetland, where willow is still grown commercially. The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers founded 1569 in the City, East London retains strong links with their trade.

 Coates Willows & Wetlands Centre Stoke St Gregory, near Glastonbury.
An area in the Coates Walks Leaflet. Insect life is varied and there are important bird breeding grounds. 

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Hazle Ceramics
The Basket Maker
Limited Painting of 30
on Bury Nutshell
With Added Baskets

 Coates harvest withies in winter. New beds are laid using the last year’s crop in late May. Established plants can last 30 years. Autumn leaf mulch eliminates the need for fertilisers.

2009 Cyber Ceramic

Cart and wheelchair in the Basket Museum. 
Buff willow: boiled and stripped of bark. 

UK/Europe £84.50
Rest of World £71.91

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P H Coate & Son
Founded 1819 by Robert Coate, methods haven’t changed much but products are adapted. Living Willow sculpture has featured on BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World. Willow spiling and hurdles help reinforce river banks. Willow charcoal is used by artists and as a propellant in explosives and fireworks. And Coates wicker furniture is still in demand now, just as it was in Victorian times.

Willow coffins are now a popular green option. 

 Posh picnic hampers! Coates supply major stores, museums and stage or film sets such as Johnny Depp’s Sweeney Todd and Channel 4’s River Cottage.