About
Established in 2000, Lark Valley Willow is a family-run business based around Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. I’m Chris Cooke and I run the business with my sister, Liz. With our team, we create bespoke in-situ willow fences, unique willow sculptures and living willow structures. Our portfolio also includes: support services, design consultancy, practical workshops and after-care for our installations.
With my background in landscape gardening I already incorporated willow fences into my designs. Liz meanwhile was using various media in her sculptures, such as stone and steel and started experimenting with willow. We realised if we joined forces we could offer an innovative and comprehensive service for the customer, which became Lark Valley Willow.
In early 2017 we crossed over the vat threshold so decided there was no longer any point running two businesses therefore Lark Valley Willow and Lark Valley Landscapes Ltd have now amalgamated under our new trading name of Lark Valley Willow Ltd. Mainly through recommendation and enquiries via our web site 2016 saw a continued expansion in our willow fencing. We rarely have a gap between fences now.
The business has grown from strength to strength. Along with bespoke in-situ fencing and made to order sculptures, I offer advice, repairs and fence maintenance. Liz runs teaching workshops for all ages, including schools. We also create living willow sculptures, made from our own home grown willow.
What started out as a joint interest has become a thriving business, which considers each customer’s individual needs and offers a unique and beautiful structure which enhances any landscape.
In 2012 Lark Valley Willow were delighted to be asked to build a fence for Diarmuid Gavin for an ITV This Morning project. Diarmuid remarked at the end of the process that he thought our fence was “the making of the garden”.
In 2010 as our business expanded we began planting our own willow on the Water Meadows in Bury St Edmunds by kind permission of Greene King. Five years on the beds are well established. We continue to experiment with different varieties which, once dried, we can then use in our fences and sculptures enabling us to give customers more choice in colour and texture. The newly cut green willow is used to create living willow fedges (living willow fence/hedge!). We also sell living willow rods for small projects and can sell cuttings for those wanting to plant their own withy beds.
Liz’s popular workshops take place at her home studio and garden and can be arranged in schools. Liz is flexible and can organise bespoke courses on request, along with her tried and tested favourites.
Our team also includes Jonathan Eastall and Liz Lord and Oliver Schofield.