Latest News from Chester Hope Willow Plot

Pauline Robson and Lorraine Griffiths visited the Chester Hope willow plot this morning to buy willow. Following their visit, willow stocks are now at a very low level. The stocks include one special bundle of 2-foot (more about this bundle below), several bundles of 3-foot Norbury and a few bundles of 7-foot fine Dicky Meadows. If you are interested in purchasing any of this willow, please get in touch with me.

The 2-foot bundle is special as it was the location where a Thrush decided to build a nest to raise a family earlier in the year. We have been incredibly careful not to disturb the nest. In turn, the young chicks, when they hatched, were very quiet as we carefully collected bundles from elsewhere in the shelter. Yesterday, it was obvious that the time for the chicks to vacate the nest was near. Sure enough, when Pauline and I arrived at the site this morning, the nest was empty. A careful search revealed a chick hiding outside and one hiding inside the shelter. The third was nowhere to be seen. We wish the chicks well as they leave the safety of the nest and embark on their adventure into the wider world. As far as I am aware, this is the first time that the shelter has been used to raise a family since it was constructed in 2012.

The attached photo, taken on Tuesday near the shelter, shows the vigorous growth of this year's willow crop. The Norbury stools in the foreground on the left are particularly vibrant.