Happy Valley Norfolk is a hub of creativity and opportunity. You may have found us when looking for the perfect woodland wedding venue in Norfolk, or perhaps you were a wedding guest at one of our many unique and beautiful weddings. You may have attended one of our past events; Spring Rising; our popular Christmas market; or our brand new Pre-Loved Pop Up Market. Maybe you’ve experienced the serenity of one of our cabins during an unforgettable glamping stay or you’ve simply stumbled across us on Pinterest, Instagram or Tik Tok. However you’ve found us, we’re so glad you’re here!
Something you may not know about Happy Valley Norfolk is that we offer a plethora of wonderful workshop spaces - both indoors and outdoors. We love hosting all sorts of events here, including retreats and workshops! Whether you need large open spaces outdoors, use of our barn spaces or somewhere more intimate and cosy like The Marshall Bar (pictured below), email us at events@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk and we can help you bring your workshop to life. Read on to hear about how one of our workshop leaders uses the space.
One talented creator who is currently using our space to teach willow weaving is Karen Bek - Norfolk basketmaker and advocate for the importance of slow craft. I interviewed Karen for our blog and thought her insights were inspiring.
Happy Valley: Obviously there are multiple steps to take before you even start weaving the willow…how long does the process take from growing the willow to making a basket from that same willow?
Karen: From planting a willow cutting to making a basket takes around three years. Willow is harvested every winter, cut down to the ground, dried for around six months and then can be resoaked for weaving.
Happy Valley: Wow, so not only does it take a long time to grow, it’s also a slow craft. What benefits do you experience personally from slowing down in this way?
Karen: Basketry is a technical craft so it forces you to concentrate and block everything else out which is good for people experiencing stress or poor mental health.
Happy Valley: How important do you think it is that we make time for crafts like willow weaving?
Karen: It's very important that our cultural heritage is not lost. We now see a skills gap in crafts such as basketry where knowledge and skills haven’t been passed down through the generations. Basketry is the oldest traditional craft and it's important that people continue to learn and pass on their knowledge - we can learn so much about our social history when we explore traditional craft work.
We love nothing more than providing a backdrop for making memories and bringing likeminded communities together through shared interests. Family and community is at the heart of everything we do here at Happy Valley Norfolk, so if you have a workshop in mind, a retreat idea or an event idea then do get in touch today. Bring your dreams over to Happy Valley Norfolk where they will be nurtured and celebrated. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Email events@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk