Farm updates, new workshops and more..
July news from Amberley Willow Farm
Hello everyone,
I hope you've all been keeping warm and finding little moments of creativity through the middle of winter.
The last few weeks have been busy here at the Amberley Willow Farm. Between working on commissions, teaching workshops, planting willow cuttings, and replying to enquiries about group workshops, the days have absolutely flown by.
On top of all that, it was the school holidays, and my two oldest boys and I were involved in our local theatre production… eek! It certainly made for a very full calendar, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. I feel incredibly lucky that my days are filled with creativity and that I get to share it with so many lovely people!
A Winter Update from the Willow Farm
Winter is a busy season on the farm, especially for willow growers. With the willow dormant, it's the ideal time to harvest rods and plant new cuttings. Over the past few weeks, I’ve planted hundreds of cuttings at Amberley Willow Farm. I've been experimenting with eco-friendly weed control, but my attempts with straw and sheep dags haven’t been as effective as hoped, so I’m reverting to weed mat for now.
One thing I've been especially grateful for is the support of my family. After expressing that my back was sore from digging, my father quickly made me a tool called a dibber, which has made planting so much easier.
Growing willow has been filled with trial and error, and I know I’ll continue to learn. Each winter cutting is an investment in future creations like baskets and sculptures, and I hope they’ll inspire creativity and connection for years to come.
Workshops
I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has booked onto a workshop this year. Your enthusiasm and support continue to amaze me, and I never take it for granted.
The good news is that I'm busy planning the next round of workshops and have added a few new dates, including workshops at the 2027 Methven Summer School, which I am very excited to teach at again!. As always, newsletter subscribers are the first to hear about them.
I'd also love to know what you'd like to see next year. Is there a particular basket, sculpture, or weaving technique you'd enjoy learning? I'm always keen to hear your ideas, so please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Finally, I'm now taking bookings for private groups and organisations from January 2027 onwards. The remainder of 2026 is already fully booked (which still feels quite surreal!), so if you've been thinking about organising a workshop for your community group, workplace, or a gathering of friends, now is a great time to get a date in the diary.
New Willow Basketry Tools!
I plan to have a few of these gorgeous tools available for sale on my website soon. If you're interested, please email me! The steel is expertly forged by a local blacksmith, and the handle is lovingly woodturned by my father, Wolfgang Guse.
As always, thank you for following along. I love sharing this little corner of the world with you, and I'm looking forward to showing you what the coming months at the willow farm have in store.
Warmly,
Tamar
Amberley Willow Farm