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To enable us to give you our full attention during your showroom visit, please book an appointment
Every Year we enjoy the chance to work with Farmer Mark and his team at Prospects Trust Farm. We like to get down there in person and help them to plant trees but Covid has somewhat thwarted that for the last two years and the best way we have been able to help has been by buying and sending trees to them.
However this month we got down there in person. Or should that be en masse. Phil, Sam and Warren from Art of Flooring went along with friends and colleagues at Art of Clean and planted the beginnings of what will be the ‘Art of Flooring Coppice’.
Filling the space with Willow Whips
The first part of project ‘Art of Flooring Coppice’ meant filling a space of land, which isn’t good enough to grow crops on, with Willow whips. These will then be surrounded by Hazel. In time these Willows will be used to make baskets and sold by Prospect Trust Unwrapped. More on that later.
The whole team had a go at digging and planting and to see each small, individual whip begin to form part of a whole area was fabulous.
Sam, Phil and Pierre also had a walk around the farm to see the trees that they had planted in previous years and were delighted to find that they had survived and are growing strong.
Warren and Pierre had a Tractor driving lesson and Phil had a ride in the trailer with some of the apprentices who work at the Trust.
Prospects Trust is a 3 part enterprise. First and foremost it is an Organic Farm supporting adults with disabilities, offering them work opportunities. They grow organic produce on the farm which is sold in their shop, their garlic is exceptional! It also offers opportunities to companies like ourselves to become involved here.
Secondly they offer commercial gardening contracts helping people (homeowners or businesses) to manage their own green spaces and gardens.
Thirdly Prospect Trust also run Prospect Trust Unwrapped in Ely. Here they have a refill shop and also sell organic environmentally friendly grown produce, which is sold unwrapped to reduce waste and protect the environment further.
Willow baskets and a refill shop
It is here that the Willow baskets from our Coppice will eventually be sold. Pop along to the shop to see what else they have to offer and while you are there you can pick up a coffee and a vegan sausage roll in their café! prospectstrust.org.uk/prospects-trust-unwrapped
Not only is it a much needed excuse to escape from the showroom and a nice chance to get out in the open but it is also a great opportunity to meet the people that work here.
But not only that.
Giving back to the environment
We are acutely aware that we are a supplier of wood produce as part of our business and obviously this has an environmental impact. By buying and planting a tree for every wooden floor we sell we are trying to give back to the environment and the beautiful place we live in.
Roll on next year, we can’t wait to see how the Coppice develops!
