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 and unique willow sculptures.  Our portfolio also includes: support services, design consultancy, practical workshops and after-care for our installations.

We are celebrating 25 years of trading this year!  Who knew when we started out how the business would grow!

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.

Our mainstay is bespoke in-situ fencing.  As there become less willow fence-makers around we are increasingly asked to do fence repairs and re-topping.  I can offer advice, repairs and fence maintenance.

What started out as a joint interest all those years ago has become a thriving business. We consider each customer’s individual needs and offer 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. The beds are well established now and we harvest every year in the winter months as long as the meadow is not flooded!

We have done many living willow fences and structures, however we are not offering this service at the moment as we are focussing on our in-situ fencing.

Liz continues to create willow sculpture commissions.  She also offers workshops, mainly at Suffolk Food Hall.

Our team also includes Jonathan Eastell Colin Ridley and Liz Lord.