About us...

The Hill family who own the Somerset Willow Company Ltd have experience that spans four generations. For 45 years the Hill family of Somerset have made traditional willow basket ware. The company employs 13 key staff, including 9 fully trained basket makers who complete a minimum 5 year training process. Reflecting a strong commitment to exemplary professionalism and ensuring a position as one of the few UK producers proven to consistently manufacture high class willow coffins, basket ware and furniture.

It is truly their belief that willow coffins are the ultimate consideration towards environmental recycling. This is because willow grows up to 8ft in height in one year and because it grows from the same crown annually, it doesn’t need to be replanted each time it is harvested. Willow requires little mechanical processing, making it one of the few truly environmentally renewable resources. In addition, willow when buried under the ground decomposes far more quickly compared to hard woods.

The Somerset Levels today remain the strong hold of the English Willow. This is because the habitats of the Somerset Levels are ideal for growing willow. Most seeds contain some Endosperm, which acts as a food supply. Willow seeds do not. The catkins, which bear seeds, are lightweight making wind dispersal more effective. This means that they can only germinate if they land in conditions that are immediately suitable, which is why willow tends to grow on damp ground.

Evidence of this can be traced back to the Iron Age through woven fragments found on the site of Glastonbury Lake Village and also to Roman basketwork discovered in a Roman salt-making site on the River Huntspill.

It is as much a part of the Somerset Wetland landscape as the Kentish hop fields or Fenland vegetable crops. The willow is harvested annually from crowns that can last for up to 40 – 50 years. After harvesting, the willow bundles are boiled for twelve hours, and then they are stripped through revolving brakes whilst still hot and steaming. The willow is then dried and graded ready for processing. When woven, willow retains its natural character and has an alluring artistic appeal.