Lorraine Ellery Matthews

So that's using birch. And actually that very large heart, it was more for a wedding fair, in fact. And that's actually made onto a soft steel frame.

So that's using birch. And actually that very large heart, it was more for a wedding fair, in fact. And that's actually made onto a soft steel frame.

This is the plant equivalent. Yeah, yeah. We call it a peony cloche because it was designed to support peonies, for peonies to go through it. It's the perfect height and diameter and shape. And in fact, if you look down in it, I think it looks very tulip-like. It's very architectural.

This is the plant equivalent. Yeah, yeah. We call it a peony cloche because it was designed to support peonies, for peonies to go through it. It's the perfect height and diameter and shape. And in fact, if you look down in it, I think it looks very tulip-like. It's very architectural.

And back to what I was saying before, with the living willow, I'm using this to create the knots to hold certain areas of the design together. In fact, that's called a god's eye, so it's a specific weave. that's used just to secure something in place.

And back to what I was saying before, with the living willow, I'm using this to create the knots to hold certain areas of the design together. In fact, that's called a god's eye, so it's a specific weave. that's used just to secure something in place.

So we also have the very large obelisk, but we also have something similar, which is a cylindrical support for those plants, the tall ones, to then hang over the sides. So the obelisk here, gosh, how tall would you say that is?

So we also have the very large obelisk, but we also have something similar, which is a cylindrical support for those plants, the tall ones, to then hang over the sides. So the obelisk here, gosh, how tall would you say that is?

And the willow's probably been slightly trimmed as well. So people have choices to the height. They have to measure how much room they've got in their car or on their car, obviously, before they make a decision. But they can always trim down these tapered ends.

And the willow's probably been slightly trimmed as well. So people have choices to the height. They have to measure how much room they've got in their car or on their car, obviously, before they make a decision. But they can always trim down these tapered ends.

No, I mean, they're very architectural, but they do look lovely with sweet peas, clematis, even your runner beans and French beans growing up them. And I use them for that purpose in my own garden.

No, I mean, they're very architectural, but they do look lovely with sweet peas, clematis, even your runner beans and French beans growing up them. And I use them for that purpose in my own garden.

Yes, so I specialise in the willow craft and we run courses throughout the year. Paul, my husband, is the hedge layer and he runs courses for hedge laying and drottle hurdle making. throughout the coppicing season, which is October through to the end of March. It creates a runway for animals, somewhere for them to be protected.

Yes, so I specialise in the willow craft and we run courses throughout the year. Paul, my husband, is the hedge layer and he runs courses for hedge laying and drottle hurdle making. throughout the coppicing season, which is October through to the end of March. It creates a runway for animals, somewhere for them to be protected.

We get lots of small mammals in the hedges, the birds nesting in the hedges, but also what's really important as well is the fact that a hedge will sequester so much carbon, and that's not just in the hedge itself, it's also in the subsoil and the root system below the ground. So it's a very important heritage skill that needs to be passed on to the next generation.

We get lots of small mammals in the hedges, the birds nesting in the hedges, but also what's really important as well is the fact that a hedge will sequester so much carbon, and that's not just in the hedge itself, it's also in the subsoil and the root system below the ground. So it's a very important heritage skill that needs to be passed on to the next generation.

And that's what we're really all about. Yeah, these traditional crafts and so on. Absolutely, yeah. So with me, with my willow craft, Paul with his hedge laying, we have a whole team of individuals that come and support us for any group activities that we do as well. And they all have their own specialities as well and skill sets.

And that's what we're really all about. Yeah, these traditional crafts and so on. Absolutely, yeah. So with me, with my willow craft, Paul with his hedge laying, we have a whole team of individuals that come and support us for any group activities that we do as well. And they all have their own specialities as well and skill sets.

My background was working in the scholarly publishing industry, in fact, for many years. I'd been in the corporate world for quite a long time. But when I met Paul, things did change. I still carried on travelling and working, but I started getting quite jealous, actually, of him. Him being outside. Yeah, and outside. And I'd reached a stage where I was ready for a change, to be honest.

My background was working in the scholarly publishing industry, in fact, for many years. I'd been in the corporate world for quite a long time. But when I met Paul, things did change. I still carried on travelling and working, but I started getting quite jealous, actually, of him. Him being outside. Yeah, and outside. And I'd reached a stage where I was ready for a change, to be honest.

I was travelling all over the world. I covered Asia Pacific, the Americas. Yeah, I was doing a lot of travelling. And I have a family as well, so it was nice to finally be able to slow down, yes, and look at what else I could do.

I was travelling all over the world. I covered Asia Pacific, the Americas. Yeah, I was doing a lot of travelling. And I have a family as well, so it was nice to finally be able to slow down, yes, and look at what else I could do.

And I wasn't quite sure initially, but I did make a change and I decided that that was going to start by supporting Paul in the business and creating the business as it is today. And through that process, I then got involved.

And I wasn't quite sure initially, but I did make a change and I decided that that was going to start by supporting Paul in the business and creating the business as it is today. And through that process, I then got involved.

in going around collecting materials that he was discarding and that started with the hazel and making wreaths for Christmas and one thing led to another and now I have a whole range, over 30 different types of workshops that I offer and continuing to learn from Paul as well as learning from other specialists in the industry.

in going around collecting materials that he was discarding and that started with the hazel and making wreaths for Christmas and one thing led to another and now I have a whole range, over 30 different types of workshops that I offer and continuing to learn from Paul as well as learning from other specialists in the industry.

infused so you're you're yeah you really picked up on that well for me that's what it's all about and this is what i love and i i did strive to think well what skill set have i got to bring and i thought well i've always loved bringing people together so even in my previous industry i was the one that you know arranged the parties and the get togethers and and everything and i love training people as well so it's all been about bringing people together and being in the outdoors has always been there as well we have dogs so we're

infused so you're you're yeah you really picked up on that well for me that's what it's all about and this is what i love and i i did strive to think well what skill set have i got to bring and i thought well i've always loved bringing people together so even in my previous industry i was the one that you know arranged the parties and the get togethers and and everything and i love training people as well so it's all been about bringing people together and being in the outdoors has always been there as well we have dogs so we're

Paul and I always walk the dogs and that's how we got to know each other. And so, yeah, we both share that love of nature and gardening. And I just love bringing people to one of our locations like this and sharing this gorgeous view and chatting and, yeah, just being real.

Paul and I always walk the dogs and that's how we got to know each other. And so, yeah, we both share that love of nature and gardening. And I just love bringing people to one of our locations like this and sharing this gorgeous view and chatting and, yeah, just being real.

Anyone from 19 to 85, I mean, it really is a wide range. Yeah, there are predominantly a lot of middle-aged women like myself that want to come and do things like the Willow sculptures, where they want to sit and just take time themselves, where they want time out. Is it kind of mindfulness to actually get your, I was going to say get your hands dirty.

Anyone from 19 to 85, I mean, it really is a wide range. Yeah, there are predominantly a lot of middle-aged women like myself that want to come and do things like the Willow sculptures, where they want to sit and just take time themselves, where they want time out. Is it kind of mindfulness to actually get your, I was going to say get your hands dirty.

Yes, this is very much a mindful activity. Willowcraft really gives you an opportunity to focus on what you're doing and actually forget everything else. And I get that comment a lot from my customers, my clients. A lot of them say how nice it is to be in the outdoors. Many will be people that spend their time in the office and just really need to detox and get away from their day-to-day life.

Yes, this is very much a mindful activity. Willowcraft really gives you an opportunity to focus on what you're doing and actually forget everything else. And I get that comment a lot from my customers, my clients. A lot of them say how nice it is to be in the outdoors. Many will be people that spend their time in the office and just really need to detox and get away from their day-to-day life.

We have a lot of people that are retired that come along and...

We have a lot of people that are retired that come along and...

looking at learning new skills and they also have the time then to go and put those into actually when they get home so we get a lot of gardeners as well particularly with the plant sports they want to then go and be able to make them for their clients and make their clients gardens look even more attractive but in general it's more about an experience that people just want to have some me time or gift that me time to another member of their family or friends

looking at learning new skills and they also have the time then to go and put those into actually when they get home so we get a lot of gardeners as well particularly with the plant sports they want to then go and be able to make them for their clients and make their clients gardens look even more attractive but in general it's more about an experience that people just want to have some me time or gift that me time to another member of their family or friends

Lots of smiles. Lots of smiles, lots of people feeling very proud of what they've achieved. Lots of them commenting to say they never thought they would achieve and walk away with a finished creation. Yeah, a piece of artwork in many instances.

Lots of smiles. Lots of smiles, lots of people feeling very proud of what they've achieved. Lots of them commenting to say they never thought they would achieve and walk away with a finished creation. Yeah, a piece of artwork in many instances.

Well done, well done.

Well done, well done.

Come on, Epsom.

Come on, Epsom.

My name's Lorraine Ellery Matthews and our business is called Hedges and Hurdles, Country Skills and Crafts.

My name's Lorraine Ellery Matthews and our business is called Hedges and Hurdles, Country Skills and Crafts.

We can see quite far ahead into the distance here and it's a beautiful day today. We've got some lovely blue skies. We can see the hills of the North Downs. We can see farmland reaching quite far ahead of us. We're just surrounded by green trees.

We can see quite far ahead into the distance here and it's a beautiful day today. We've got some lovely blue skies. We can see the hills of the North Downs. We can see farmland reaching quite far ahead of us. We're just surrounded by green trees.

We're on the Tarrington estate, which is a huge site, but the tenant farmers nearby, in fact, my neighbour tenant farmer, informed me that this was actually where his grandmother used to keep the pigs. And you can see that because we've got a walled garden area as well as quite a large barn area.

We're on the Tarrington estate, which is a huge site, but the tenant farmers nearby, in fact, my neighbour tenant farmer, informed me that this was actually where his grandmother used to keep the pigs. And you can see that because we've got a walled garden area as well as quite a large barn area.

We've got some gorgeous colours here, particularly that big pile of willow leaning against the wall here.

We've got some gorgeous colours here, particularly that big pile of willow leaning against the wall here.

It is.

It is.

It looks so fiery, doesn't it? And this particular willow is just a common willow that's been grown locally, in fact, just five minutes up the road. in somebody's garden that contacted me last year and informed me they had this willow and they knew that I created lots of plant supports with common willow like this, a sort of a Vimalaris, you should say.

It looks so fiery, doesn't it? And this particular willow is just a common willow that's been grown locally, in fact, just five minutes up the road. in somebody's garden that contacted me last year and informed me they had this willow and they knew that I created lots of plant supports with common willow like this, a sort of a Vimalaris, you should say.

Yes, and we call it a curly willow. This is from our tree in our own garden. And we pollard it and use this gorgeous curly willow for decorative purposes. So it's great in our Christmas wreaths. And at this time of year, people are using it in the trellises that we make.

Yes, and we call it a curly willow. This is from our tree in our own garden. And we pollard it and use this gorgeous curly willow for decorative purposes. So it's great in our Christmas wreaths. And at this time of year, people are using it in the trellises that we make.

So over to the right here in this very long trough, I've stood all different types of willow. There's three different stages of willow. So you have green willow, which is freshly cut, which is what we've just looked at here. And we have semi-green where the saps come out of the willow. It's still supple, still able to weave with it. And then we have brown willow.

So over to the right here in this very long trough, I've stood all different types of willow. There's three different stages of willow. So you have green willow, which is freshly cut, which is what we've just looked at here. And we have semi-green where the saps come out of the willow. It's still supple, still able to weave with it. And then we have brown willow.

And these are the brown willow bundles that I buy in from the Somerset Plains. So this is a cultivated willow. It's what... specialist basket weavers use for weaving because I also do basket willow crafts. I make sculptures like the duck for example.

And these are the brown willow bundles that I buy in from the Somerset Plains. So this is a cultivated willow. It's what... specialist basket weavers use for weaving because I also do basket willow crafts. I make sculptures like the duck for example.

Well actually this particular duck is life-size because it's based on a Cayuga duck which is an effervescent colour duck which we have on the Burley Estate where I also have another studio. Fantastic.

Well actually this particular duck is life-size because it's based on a Cayuga duck which is an effervescent colour duck which we have on the Burley Estate where I also have another studio. Fantastic.

Yeah, this is a pheasant. So I was going to run a duck workshop for a group, and they said that they were very much into pheasant shooting, and they bred pheasants. So they said, can we make pheasants? And we did.

Yeah, this is a pheasant. So I was going to run a duck workshop for a group, and they said that they were very much into pheasant shooting, and they bred pheasants. So they said, can we make pheasants? And we did.

It's a very popular one, particularly with our hen parties. It's something that can be done in a couple of hours and you can continually build on it and you can also plant it up as well.

It's a very popular one, particularly with our hen parties. It's something that can be done in a couple of hours and you can continually build on it and you can also plant it up as well.

We don't really use string. The only time we use any other materials is probably for our obelisks just to secure the tops. We use like a wire tie. But for the hearts, we're just using willow. So in that bucket over there, you can see I've got some green willow. And this is what we've been using to create the knots on the peony cloche. And this is actually a living willow.

We don't really use string. The only time we use any other materials is probably for our obelisks just to secure the tops. We use like a wire tie. But for the hearts, we're just using willow. So in that bucket over there, you can see I've got some green willow. And this is what we've been using to create the knots on the peony cloche. And this is actually a living willow.

So I wouldn't use living willow for basket making because baskets shrink if you use living willow. But for these peony cloches... You can benefit from the colour, which is really nice.

So I wouldn't use living willow for basket making because baskets shrink if you use living willow. But for these peony cloches... You can benefit from the colour, which is really nice.