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Coates Willow Newsletter - Winter 2011

Newsletter December 2011

Christmas season opening times 2011:

Shop and Courtyard Tea Room:
Open: Saturday 24th December 9.30am -3.00pm
Closed: 25th, 26th and 27th December
Open: Wednesday 28th to Friday 30th December 9.30am - 4.30pm
Open: Saturday 31st December 10am - 3.00pm
Closed: Monday 2nd January 2012

Normal opening hours resume Tuesday 3rd January 2012

Last dispatch date for all goods - 21st December 2011.
We have started harvesting!

This will be good news to many, we have been acutely aware of the shortage of willow this year. It has been difficult for all of us in the office trying to fulfil orders or suggesting alternatives. Thank you to everyone for being so patient with us during the last few months, I hope we managed to keep everyone fairly satisfied.

This year we do have some very long living willow available- up to 20ft! Anything over 12ft long is for collection only as our carriers cannot handle any longer than this. Buff and brown black maul willow is available in all sizes. The supply of white and steamed willow is still limited.

 
New building development

The new building work here at Meare Green Court is progressing very well. Steve has now got above the first floor with blocks and is eager to get a roof on before the weather changes and it gets really cold. He has completed all the blue lias stone work on the ground floor. It is looking very impressive I think we are all surprised at how big it is going to look when it is finished. Anyone who is interested in renting some of the space for their business is welcome to come and have a look at the building in progress, it is now possible to see the spaces available. Please contact us to arrange to visit, clearly we cannot allow visitors on to the building site un-accompanied.

 

 

Renovation work in shop

Early in 2012 we plan to renovate our shop. This is going to mean a major upheaval for a short time. We have been aware for some time that the shop is quite dark and a little crowded, so we plan to improve the lighting and layout. Also, we need to address one or two problems with the building itself, so we will be able to do that at the same time. The building is where the basket makers used to work before we created the large workshop in the top yard. Apart from the smart new counter we put in last year and an occasional coat of paint nothing much has been done in the shop, so it will be good to have an opportunity to re-fresh it.

While the work is being carried out we will create a temporary shop in another building, possibly in the huge basket store. The full range of baskets will still be available in the temporary shop and there will be no changes to our opening hours.

Refreshing the website

Whilst we are on the theme of renewing and revamping, we are also planning to completely refresh our website next year. When we first launched the site around 7 years ago we had little idea just how important to the business it would become. It allows everyone to have access to the shop and information about us at any time. The website has been a great success, but over the years we have become aware of ways we can improve it. The change over should be relatively seamless and if there are going to be any interruption to the website we will publicise it as early as possible. The newly refreshed website should be easier to navigate and more secure than ever to shop from.

Post for new basket maker

As this newsletter is being written we are trying to find a new trainee basket maker. The closing date for applicants has now passed and we are in the process of selecting candidates for interview. Training a new basket maker is a huge commitment, we haven’t trained anyone here for many years now. We hope the new trainee will stay with us for many years.

Giant basket

If you are a regular rail passenger travelling on the line between Reading and Taunton you may have noticed a giant basket in one of the fields on the Somerset Levels near Stoke St Gregory. Look out for it

 

 
Baskets
Just recently we have been involved with making a range of baskets for another film, this time it was an adaptation of the fairy tale Snow White, called Snow White and the Huntsman. We have made 150 fishing baskets and traps of all shapes and sizes and another 50 other baskets.

If you are thinking of ordering a bespoke basket as a Christmas present please contact us as soon as possible. The shop is well stocked at the moment with a wide range of baskets made on the premises. All the details relating to placing web orders for baskets for Christmas will be posted on the website very soon.
Courses

There are just a few places left for Barbara Clift’s Christmas Decorations course on the 26th November. Please contact us if you are interested in taking one of the last places on this date. These courses are great fun even if you are not naturally artistic or creative.
The course she is running on the 3rd December is now fully booked.
Basket making Course dates for 2012:

Saturday 28th January
Saturday 25th February
Saturday 24th March
Saturday 28th April

The cost is £85 per person including lunch, materials and your unique finished basket. These courses are very popular and we plan to offer more throughout the year, new dates will be advertised on the website and in our shop. There are only a few places left for the January course, it is filling up quickly.
The Great Crane Project

We are proud to be a Champion of the crane named “Christmas Shoes”.

This young female crane was hatched on the 25th April 2011. Her unusual name came about as a result of the red and green leg bands she was ringed with as a chick.

As a chick she had to have her leg put into a splint for a while because the leg was bowed awkwardly.

The leg is now quite straight and Christmas Shoes is doing well.

To find out more about Christmas Shoes and the other cranes visit the website, www.thegreatcraneproject.org.uk.
Finally we would like to wish everyone, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.