History
Some 70 years ago the island was a thriving commercial osier bed, providing work for many residents of St Ives. Men traditionally undertook the practical management of the willow beds, the harvesting of the crop and the task of making the baskets. Stripping the willow during the first 2 weeks of May to create white willow was, however, the time when women were employed and the island rang with the noise of chatter and singing, as this was a very sociable affair.
The island was visually very different. It was remarkably flat and it was possible to see from The Waits across to the water meadows. The willow trees were planted in neat, tidy rows and interspersed with fruit trees providing easy snacks for the workers! Barges moored alongside the island to transport the prepared willow to the workshops to be made into baskets, notably large post office baskets.
The “ridge and furrow” appearance developed because of the osier bed. The ridges formed as alluvium was brought down by the river by the winter flooding (thus insuring high quality willow growth), whilst the furrows were maintained for drainage. These ridges & furrows can still be seen today near the entrance to the site where we have planted new osiers.