We share the farmland with land partners. These are separate enterprises and projects, with complementary aims and values. In alphabetical order, they are: Anna Leibmann, Grass Roots Remedies Co-op, Lauriston Wildflowers, Rhyze Mushrooms Co-op, and Wakibia & Co (website to come). We encourage you to sign up for any of their newsletters and follow their projects, but here we share some of their news…

From Anna Leibmann

Volunteering Opportunities in the Willow Beds on 14 and 15 February

Click here to sign up to volunteer for Anna

This year, 2026, I will do the first full harvest of the the new ‘perfect, model’ willow bed, planted in 2024 through ecotex mulch mat. In these sessions, we will weed around the edges and amongst the plants and infill any further cuttings that have not taken (though I think this will be minimal, as we did this last season). This bed produced an incredible amount of growth in its first year and now, after its second full year of growth, it is ready for a full harvest (earlier than anticipated) and is quite the teacher’s pet – a fine example of a thriving one year rotation coppice bed.

The original bed, planted in early 2022, is really weedy and our mulching efforts didn’t come to much – so, more weeding, strimming and such to support the willows to get away ahead of the grasses. I plan to cut the bulk of this bed on a long leg/ low pollard, to have the new growth each year coming up above the weedline. I may decide to make this initial higher cut this year (2026), or may decide it’s best to wait till next year so that the plants all have a lot of strength in them. These willows are larger varieties: Norfolks and Harrisons.

In March 2025 we pollarded the three year old ‘Carl Jensen’ willow which is at the east end, at a height of 3′, so I think this will be ready for its first proper harvest this year.

It is my plan with these ongoing sessions that we will gather a group together each time, and if there is no work to do (😂) we can just have a nice time in the willow patch admiring their incredible growth and flexibility and colours, but by getting some sessions in the calendar we will keep on top of the weeds etc and the willow will thrive!

Please dress for the weather, much of the work will be kneeling, and bring gloves if you have them. You don’t need to bring secateurs for any of the cutting work as I have plenty and I will have them nice and sharp.

Please don’t feel you have to stay for all the slot you sign up for, likewise feel free to stay on for longer or sign up for multiple slots in the day!