Willows and Wetlands Visitor Centre

The Willows and Wetlands Visitor Centre lies on the Somerset Levels near Taunton, run by the Coate family on their working farm. Over two centuries they have grown and processed willow on seventy acres of fields beside the River Tone. The land supports more than a dozen varieties, with Salix triandra the most common. Visitors can walk along riverside paths through the growing plots and yards where the cut stems are dried and graded. The farm explains how willow shaped life on the Levels from the 19th century onwards. Basket-making spread as wicker furniture gained popularity for its clean reputation, employing outworkers in their homes. The Coates still produce charcoal from willow, a trade begun in the 1960s. In 1987 David Bellamy opened the centre, designed to be accessible to people with visual or mobility impairments. A wooden sculpture by Louise Baker stands beside one path, marking the industry’s importance. Inside, displays show every stage from planting to finished baskets. A video room and basket museum hold traditional and unusual artefacts. An exhibition on the Levels and Moors links the wetland landscape to the craft. Guided tours demonstrate stripping bark and weaving wicker, while visitors may wander the riverside fields freely. The site keeps alive a family business and a centuries-old Somerset tradition.