Willow-working

Withy-growing and basket-making have been the principle industry in this area for hundreds of years. Although the area of withies grown now is a small fraction of what it once was, basket-making still flourishes as well as other uses for willow, such as the manufacture of artists’ charcoal and the reinforcement of river banks. A fascinating museum on the history of the levels and willow cultivation, as well as a basket shop, can be seen at Coates English Willow.