The Willows and Wetlands Visitor Centre is situated at Stoke St Gregory, on the

Somerset Levels The Somerset Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area of Somerset, England, running south from the Mendips to the Blackdown Hills. The Somerset Levels have an area of about and are bisected by the Polden Hills; the areas to the south a ...

, north east of

Taunton Taunton () is the county town of Somerset, England, with a 2011 population of 69,570. Its thousand-year history includes a 10th-century monastic foundation, Taunton Castle, which later became a priory. The Normans built a castle owned by the ...

, England. Based on a working farm, growing and processing

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...

, the centre offers tours of over of withies, willow yards and basket workshops and explains the place of willow in the history of the Levels.

History

The centre is run and owned by the Coate family who have been growing willow on the Somerset Levels since 1819 and making baskets since 1904. During the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardia ...

wicker furniture became popular as it was believed to be more sanitary, collecting less dust when compared to upholstery. Large numbers of people were employed, some as " outworkers" processing the willow in their own homes. The company has remained in the same family since. Several varieties of willow are grown on the , the majority being ''

Salix triandra ''Salix triandra'', with the common names almond willow, almond-leaved willow or black maul willow, is a species of willow native to Europe and Western and Central Asia. It is found from south-eastern England east to Lake Baikal, and south to S ...

'' The willow is then cut and processed to produce different colours. The willow is boiled and then the bark removed. Bark removal was originally carried out by hand but is now mechanised. In addition to willow for basket making, the company also uses it to make Charcoal, which is sold under their own label and for other brands since the 1960s. The centre was opened by

David Bellamy David James Bellamy (18 January 1933 – 11 December 2019) was an English botanist, television presenter, author and environmental campaigner. Early and personal life Bellamy was born in London to parents Winifred May (née Green) and Thoma ...

in 1987. Particular efforts have been made to ensure the museum is accessible to those with visual and mobility impairments.

Exhibits

It features exhibits relating to

Willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...

growing and processing and basket-making and includes a video room describing willow growing and basket making; a basket museum with displays of traditional and unusual willow artefacts; the Levels and Moors Exhibition describing the history of the local countryside and its links with this traditional industry; and an environmental interpretation display highlighting the importance of water in shaping the Somerset Levels. Guided tours are available which demonstrate the stages in the processing of the willow and the creation of wicker work, but visitors are free to wander through the fields along the banks of the

River Tone The River Tone is a river in the English county of Somerset. The river is about long. Its source is at Beverton Pond near Huish Champflower in the Brendon Hills, and is dammed at Clatworthy Reservoir. The reservoir outfall continues throu ...

. Close to one of the paths is a wooden carved sculpture by Louise Baker celebrating the importance of the willow in the industry of the Levels.

References

{{reflist

External links

Centre web site
Museums in Somerset Somerset Levels History of Somerset Farm museums in England Industry museums in England Environmental interpretation organizations