Willows & Wetlands Visitor Centre

I popped into the workshop just in time to capture Ed putting the Willow hinges onto a fishing basket.

We were very pleased to welcome Adam Henson and colleagues James and Dan on Monday and Tuesday this week as they filmed for BBC Country File. The episode is due to be broadcast on Sunday 2nd December. The filming covered everything from harvesting the Willow to making a basket. It even included Floss and how the cattle fit into willow growing.

Look out for the special RED DOTS in the basket shop to snap up a bargain tonight. We have SPECIAL OFFERS on selected willow baskets tonight only. Christmas items including willow reindeer, willow angels and willow decorations and fresh willow rings for wreaths are all stock now.

Book now for Willow Animal & Basket Sculpture Days January - April 2019 @ Coates English Willow with Sarah Le Breton
Get creative and make wonderful willow animals, lampshades or baskets in 2019!
I'm now taking bookings for my next 16 dates at www.sarahlebreton.co.uk/courses
... As well as the ever popular Willow Animal Sculpture Days, at which you can even decide to choose what animal you'd like to make (within reason!) I'm also adding new for 2019 my new Willow Lampshade a dedicated Zarzo Basket Sculpture Days.
All Willow Sculpture Days are held in the classroom at Coates Englsh Willow, TA3 6HY, 9.30-5.30pm approx. and cost £85-£95.
For more details please see this Facebook Events page and book by filling out my Booking Enquiry Form at www.sarahlebreton.co.uk/make-booking-enqu iry/
I look forward to teaching you! Sarah X
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We are thrilled to have Pallker Art Glass joining our team at Willow & Wetlands. The shop looks stunning, so colourful and such good value. I sense some shopping ahead....

These two old photos were found in a 1928 book called “Somerset Ways”published by the Great Western Railway. The willow photo could be anywhere, but the other one is of Athelney where the current Cuts Road bridge is overlooking Mr Morgan’s Athelney Farm.

We were very pleased to be asked to weave the willow hurdle that forms the backdrop to this great garden

Lots of decorating and intriguing shelving in Unit 2 here at the Visitor Centre - we can't wait to see how it all looks when its finished - Pallker Art Glass opening soon.

Definitely save the date....

A few photos from the Autumn Lights event last night. What a super friendly and informal atmosphere...

If only buildings could talk... this one for example has seen many changes over the years, from cow shed to basket makers store to exhibition and now its current use as our shop.

So good to see this varied and interesting feature in the Guardian today. https://www.theguardian.com/…/somerset- levels-autumn-cider-…

fab place and lovely people. A chance to have a tour round the centre, explore the processes and then you can book some time in the classroom to make something yourself. Lots of walks by the river or up the hill for a great view. Our Cubs are going to have a fantastic day.

Wonderful place to visit. Very interesting and informative tour done in a very friendly relaxed manner by Nicola. Lovely courtyard cafe serving fresh tasty food. Friendly and welcome staff. Highly recommended to visit.

We visited on a Friday and spent a wonderful day. We were lucky enough to be the only people on our tour which explained growing , harvesting and readying the willow. Truly informative and worth a visit. We were made very welcome and browsed the shop without feeling pressured to buy. The walks are well marked, boots are needed if the weather has been wet

Visited recently with my older children, 12 and 14. They loved it.

Just enough history in the museum to keep them interested, free samples of willow and charcoal to take home and experiment.

Sadly we didnt get to see the tour due to timings but it made no difference.

There were tables available to eat our picnic and we then completed a lovely walk to top of Windmill Hill and back along the river.

All followed up with tea and ice cream in the fab restaurant and a look around the few shops.

Staff in shop were friendly, children were delighted at free gift of book and charcoal for doing the quiz (really aimed at the younger children)

Came away with a bundle of Willow, very cheap to buy, which we soaked in the bath and they have been creating with it for last few days.

Great famiy day, free if you choose, donations up to you. I would definitely recommend.

The only thing I would have changed was the length of video explaining about growth of Willow and construction (40 mins) was quite long and the children lost interest.

Very informative, beautiful walks.

Great for adults & kids alike.

Will never look at a willow tree the same again.

Thank you for a great morning today with my college, having a tour and a willow workshop , will definitely be coming back , lovely friendly staff and great cafe , didn’t have time to see the other shops but will next time ,

Outstanding service with a bespoke pashley basket for a old bakers bike, very attentive the minuet we turned up, and managed to make a beautiful basket to replace the original can't thank you all enough. Also managed to buy some log baskets ready for our woodburner this year. Lovely cafe too will defently be back.

My daughter and I had a fabulous time at Sarah Le Breton's animal sculpture day. We both made geese and they look fantastic!

Coates' is a great family firm and I love going there. Three years ago I asked them to make me a white willow sewing basket which they did and I get great pleasure each time that I use it.

Yesterday, we visited Hatty's Attic and both bought pretty things for the house - AND we ate a tasty lunch in the Lemon Tree cafe!

Even our dog loves going there because of the walk down to the river- beautiful views and wildlife!!

Just fantastic! A great place to visit with, or without, kids. There's a willow sculpture trail with a fab prize at the end, all free! Lovely walks, very informative on willow production/usage, beautiful basket ware, plus independent artisan shops.

It was a very interesting insight as to how much goes into making a basket , and they have some amazing displays there too , if you get the chance to go and take your children do it's a great place

I think this is the most wonderful place where our history and future are together in one place, my grandad worked there for a very long time and was very proud of the work done there

I loved looking around the museum...it was very interesting. The shop was well stocked and the staff very helpful. We will be back for coffee and cake in the restaurant.

Had a really lovely time here. It was all very interesting and we learnt a lot. Highly recommend a visit. Bought yet another basket that will last a lifetime.

Had a great day at the centre learning how willow is grown and processed ready for making a wide variety of goods. Also enjoyed the museum, gallery and excellent cafe.

Great place to visit with a very interesting free guided tour and very personable guide. Lots to see and fantastic Willow work of all kinds to browse or buy. Willow wand pots on sale and we couldn't resist getting some as an addition to our garden. A very good tearoom for very welcome refreshments. A day to remember for all the right reasons.

Great day out. Lots to see and learn. Fantastic tour, the cake in the cafe was wonderful and it was all very dog friendly. Lovely walks and I bought some willow too to keep me busy. Thank you everyone.

Fascinating tour with Sarah, who was knowledgeable and easy to listen to. Lovely walk across the levels with lots of willow sculotures to find. Excellent food at the Lemon Tree Cafe - especially the raspberry brownie!

Absolutrly awesome afternoon...we bought our 3boys ages 6..5 and 2..they all loved it.the sculpture trail was great gun and what an awesome prize at the end of it too..we are looking forward to visiting again...the staff were so lovely also and the boys especially like the lady in the shop x

Just had a lovely day here! Can't believe it's free entry!! We had a lovely walk and looked for all the willow sculptures. Lunch was delish if a little slow in coming! The cafe was a bit overwhelmed!! The tour (£4.50) was very interesting and well put together. Definitely worth a return visit.

fab place and lovely people. A chance to have a tour round the centre, explore the processes and then you can book some time in the classroom to make something yourself. Lots of walks by the river or up the hill for a great view. Our Cubs are going to have a fantastic day.

Wonderful place to visit. Very interesting and informative tour done in a very friendly relaxed manner by Nicola. Lovely courtyard cafe serving fresh tasty food. Friendly and welcome staff. Highly recommended to visit.

We visited on a Friday and spent a wonderful day. We were lucky enough to be the only people on our tour which explained growing , harvesting and readying the willow. Truly informative and worth a visit. We were made very welcome and browsed the shop without feeling pressured to buy. The walks are well marked, boots are needed if the weather has been wet

Visited recently with my older children, 12 and 14. They loved it.

Just enough history in the museum to keep them interested, free samples of willow and charcoal to take home and experiment.

Sadly we didnt get to see the tour due to timings but it made no difference.

There were tables available to eat our picnic and we then completed a lovely walk to top of Windmill Hill and back along the river.

All followed up with tea and ice cream in the fab restaurant and a look around the few shops.

Staff in shop were friendly, children were delighted at free gift of book and charcoal for doing the quiz (really aimed at the younger children)

Came away with a bundle of Willow, very cheap to buy, which we soaked in the bath and they have been creating with it for last few days.

Great famiy day, free if you choose, donations up to you. I would definitely recommend.

The only thing I would have changed was the length of video explaining about growth of Willow and construction (40 mins) was quite long and the children lost interest.

Very informative, beautiful walks.

Great for adults & kids alike.

Will never look at a willow tree the same again.

Thank you for a great morning today with my college, having a tour and a willow workshop , will definitely be coming back , lovely friendly staff and great cafe , didn’t have time to see the other shops but will next time ,

Outstanding service with a bespoke pashley basket for a old bakers bike, very attentive the minuet we turned up, and managed to make a beautiful basket to replace the original can't thank you all enough. Also managed to buy some log baskets ready for our woodburner this year. Lovely cafe too will defently be back.

My daughter and I had a fabulous time at Sarah Le Breton's animal sculpture day. We both made geese and they look fantastic!

Coates' is a great family firm and I love going there. Three years ago I asked them to make me a white willow sewing basket which they did and I get great pleasure each time that I use it.

Yesterday, we visited Hatty's Attic and both bought pretty things for the house - AND we ate a tasty lunch in the Lemon Tree cafe!

Even our dog loves going there because of the walk down to the river- beautiful views and wildlife!!

Just fantastic! A great place to visit with, or without, kids. There's a willow sculpture trail with a fab prize at the end, all free! Lovely walks, very informative on willow production/usage, beautiful basket ware, plus independent artisan shops.

It was a very interesting insight as to how much goes into making a basket , and they have some amazing displays there too , if you get the chance to go and take your children do it's a great place

I think this is the most wonderful place where our history and future are together in one place, my grandad worked there for a very long time and was very proud of the work done there

I loved looking around the museum...it was very interesting. The shop was well stocked and the staff very helpful. We will be back for coffee and cake in the restaurant.

Had a really lovely time here. It was all very interesting and we learnt a lot. Highly recommend a visit. Bought yet another basket that will last a lifetime.

Had a great day at the centre learning how willow is grown and processed ready for making a wide variety of goods. Also enjoyed the museum, gallery and excellent cafe.

Great place to visit with a very interesting free guided tour and very personable guide. Lots to see and fantastic Willow work of all kinds to browse or buy. Willow wand pots on sale and we couldn't resist getting some as an addition to our garden. A very good tearoom for very welcome refreshments. A day to remember for all the right reasons.

Great day out. Lots to see and learn. Fantastic tour, the cake in the cafe was wonderful and it was all very dog friendly. Lovely walks and I bought some willow too to keep me busy. Thank you everyone.

Fascinating tour with Sarah, who was knowledgeable and easy to listen to. Lovely walk across the levels with lots of willow sculotures to find. Excellent food at the Lemon Tree Cafe - especially the raspberry brownie!

Absolutrly awesome afternoon...we bought our 3boys ages 6..5 and 2..they all loved it.the sculpture trail was great gun and what an awesome prize at the end of it too..we are looking forward to visiting again...the staff were so lovely also and the boys especially like the lady in the shop x

Just had a lovely day here! Can't believe it's free entry!! We had a lovely walk and looked for all the willow sculptures. Lunch was delish if a little slow in coming! The cafe was a bit overwhelmed!! The tour (£4.50) was very interesting and well put together. Definitely worth a return visit.