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Willow Weaving Workshops: Teepee Bird-feeder 2025
Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
2nd Mar
09:30 - 12:30
2nd Mar
13:30 - 16:30
Where:
The Meadow Room, behind Blackthorpe Barn
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
IP30 9HZ
What3Words: newly.sofas.debating
See mapPricing:
Ticket
per person £48
Each person attending requires a ticket
Bookings close 26th February
About this event
This spring come and join Stuart Fidler and Emma Booth – the Coddiwomplers – for a fun, relaxed willow weaving workshop.
Stuart and Emma are two experienced basketmakers who enjoy teaching and they are looking forward to guiding you into making a wonderful bird-feeder that can be used and displayed outside.
What Will I do?
Learn some basic skills and techniques of willow weaving whilst creating a teepee bird feeder, using traditional basketry techniques and a range of willow varieties. This project is made on a wooden base.
Your bird feeder will be perfect for feeding birds in the garden, or is beautiful hanging inside with fairy lights.
Who is this workshop suitable for?
- People aged 16 and over
- Beginners; no experience necessary
- Some manual dexterity and strength is required for weaving the willow
Important information
There is plenty of free parking at Blackthorpe Barn.
Accessible parking is near the café/shop.
More parking is available slightly further down the avenue.
Please be aware that this is a rural location and paths can be muddy depending on the weather conditions.
Gallery
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How it Works
01
Come to Blackthorpe Barn and park in one of the free car parks
02
Make your way to the Meadow Room, behind Roots Café
03
Enjoy making your bird-feeder and go home feeling proud at what you have achieved
04
Browse around the Garden Room shop or have a coffee at Roots Café
What to bring
- Wear comfortable clothing
- Secateurs, if you have some
What is provided
- All materials
- Tea, coffee and biscuits
Refund & cancellation policy
If you need to cancel a workshop
Should you be unable to attend your booked workshop and notify us at least 7 full days in advance of the workshop date, we can offer a refund or a transfer to the same workshop on an alternative date, if possible.
If cancellation is within 7 full days of your workshop unfortunately we are unable to offer a refund. We appreciate that sometimes unforeseen circumstances may mean that you can’t attend so you are welcome to send a friend to take your place. Please tell us their name and contact details prior to the workshop.
Our right to cancel a workshop
All our workshops have a minimum attendance level and may be cancelled if too few bookings are received. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone workshops at any time and will give you as much notice as possible of the cancellation. You will receive a full refund or, if you prefer, a transfer to an alternative available course, space permitting. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any liability for travel or other costs.
Where to find us
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham,
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
There is plenty of free parking available.
Accessible parking is available near the entrance to the Café/Shop area.
Please Note: The car park closes when the Roots Café closes and the entrance gates are locked after this time.
Blackthorpe Barn is situated just south of Junction 45 of the A14, three miles east of Bury St Edmunds, in the village of Rougham.
Look out for the entrance gates to a long tree-lined avenue at the White House junction, with the Barn on the right of the avenue.
Blackthorpe Barn’s black and white signs direct visitors from local roads.
The Meadow Room can be found behind the old thatched Barn and behind Roots Café.
What3Words for the Meadow Room: hands.dunk.drums
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Not one, not two, but three!
On Thursday evening, Simon and Matt from our farming team collected three awards at the 2026 Suffolk Farm Business Competition at the Suffolk Agricultural Association Awards.
We were delighted to receive:
Third prize for Roots Café in Class 1: Best Farm Shop and Café.
Third prize for Rougham Estate Farms in Class 5: Farms of 50 hectares and over.
The Special Award for Best Farm Diversification, recognising the wider business at Rougham Estate.
These awards recognise the breadth of what we do here at Rougham against some very tough competition in the county - from our farming operations to the visitor experiences and businesses that sit alongside them.
We were also thrilled to see Rougham Primary School win the Schools Show Garden Competition who we proudly support by providing essential supplies, including compost, tools and wheelbarrows, helping pupils get hands-on with gardening and learn more about the natural world.
All in all, a very proud night and a fantastic team who deserve the recognition 🙌
#RoughamEstate #SuffolkFarming #RoughamPrimarySchool
UPDATE: We are closing the entry gates to the pumpkin patch at 3pm on Saturday 24th, due to poor weather. Face painting closing at 2:30
**Open again at the usual time of 9am on Sunday 25th 👍😃
The storms have started… so we have adjusted our opening times for this weekend and any last minute changes will be put up on our website, and on our stories.
We’ll be opening as usual at 9am on Saturday 24th October and we’ll stay open until mid-afternoon. The decision of exactly when to close will depend on when the weather starts to deteriorate.
Unfortunately we have had to cancel the Pumpkins by Torchlight and Silent Disco, which is a real shame, but we were unable to re-schedule the event and the weather looks too bad to even think about holding it on Saturday. Everyone who bought headset tickets has been refunded, but it may take a number of business days before your payment shows back on your original form of payment.
On Sunday 25th, we currently think we will delay opening until around midday, but this will depend on what the weather is doing and how the field is holding up. Once we know more about opening on Sunday, we’ll put a note on our website and put up a story on socials.
With the rain we’ve had recently, bring wellies and wrap up warmly, probably with a waterproof.
There are still plenty of pumpkins in the patch thinking “Pick me! Pick me!!”
And we still have a fantastic line-up of food and drink for you here:
Roots&Co - venison burgers, beef burgers, crumble, drinks including a bar - cider, lager, wine.
@badboiburritos - toasted burritos
@itsotisbreading - sourdough toasties (Saturday only)
@tikka_tonic - New Delhi style street food
@pigs_in - all your pork favourites
@thecreperieshack - sweet & savoury crepes
@geegeebakes - cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@fullthrottlecoffeeco - coffees
@kiernanscoffee - tasty treats and warming drinks deep in the patch
Free entry, free parking, no booking needed.
A bit of weather won’t put a damper on things… come on down, enjoy some great food, find your pumpkins, and make the most of this changeable autumn weather!!
#roughampumpkins #roughamestate #burystedmunds #suffolkdaysout
It’s been a week since we welcomed subscribers from our newsletter mailing list and Suffolk Magazine to an exclusive preview of our Christmas Shop, giving them the chance to explore and shop before we officially opened to everyone on Monday.
The shop is now in full festive flow, open daily 9:30am-5pm, and it’s lovely to hear how much customers are enjoying this year’s displays and discovering new favourites.
Our preview event was about more than getting an early look at Christmas. Guests had the opportunity to meet the team and enjoy creative demonstrations and tutorials, picking up inspiration and ideas for making Christmas extra special at home.
Would you like to be among the first to shop next year?
Sign up to the Rougham Estate newsletter using the subscription form in the footer of any page on our website. You’ll be among the first to hear our latest news and have the chance to join us for future exclusive events.
#RoughamEstate #SuffolkMagazine #ChristmasAtRougham
From what happens in your dreams to what happens in a fermentation jar, there’s plenty to get curious about at Rougham Estate over the next few weeks…
We have two very different events coming up at Blackthorpe Barn, and there’s still time to join us:
Wake up to your dreams
Why do we dream, and what might our dreams tell us? On Saturday 7 November, psychotherapist Gilly Crow will lead an engaging session exploring the fascinating world of dreams and what they might reveal about us.
9.15am–12pm | £15 per person
On Saturday 31 October, join chef Rowen Halstead to explore the art of fermentation using seasonal ingredients. You’ll learn new techniques and make spiced pumpkin sauerkraut and orchard fruit kombucha chutney to take home.
Already been to one of our fermentation workshops? Doesn’t matter, each session explores different seasonal ingredients and techniques, so this is a fresh opportunity to learn something new.
11am–12.30pm | £38 per person
Both events take place in the Meadow Room at Blackthorpe Barn, with refreshments included.
Spaces are limited, so if either has caught your interest, now’s the time to book.
Find out more and reserve your place via the Rougham Estate website - or link in our bio
#RoughamEstate #SuffolkWorkshops #FermentationWorkshop #WakeUpToYourDreams SuffolkEvents BlackthorpeBarn AutumnAtRougham
2026 is a significant year for us here at Rougham Estate, with three special milestones to celebrate.
On 18 October, we celebrated three years of Roots Café.
And as we reopen the doors to our Christmas shop at Blackthorpe Barn for another festive season, we’re also marking its 25th anniversary.
But perhaps most astonishingly, when the Arts & Crafts Fair opens its doors on 14 November, we’ll be celebrating its 35th year!
Three milestones, each with its own story, and all part of what makes Rougham Estate such a special place to visit. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way. We look forward to welcoming you this season.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #Anniversaries
EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER
Headset tickets will be refunded.
It was so good, we’re doing it again!
Pumpkins by Torchlight and the famous Silent Disco was a total blast last Saturday evening and we sold out of headsets.
For this weekend (Saturday 24th Oct) we’ve managed to get hold of some more, so we still have headset tickets left!
There are those who had such a good time last Saturday, they’ve booked again for this weekend.
Come along and join in the fun, scout through the pumpkins by torchlight, grab some great food, toast s’mores, climb on the big bales, all while having a great boogie.
Not forgetting face painting by @faceitfaceart
🎃Free entry, free parking, no booking needed to come along. Open 6pm-9pm.
🕺If you want to join the silent disco, book your headset on our website: £6 per headset.
Booking essential.
We run a waiting list on the night, but can’t guarantee you’ll get one.
🎃3 channels of music, one child-friendly
🎃Dogs on a short lead welcome in the play area and small doggy patch, but not in the main patch
🎃A great line-up of food trucks serving all day and in the evening (see next images)
🎃Find us at IP30 9HX
🎃All the details on our website (and under the next pictures)
Fabulous food on Saturday evening from:
Roots&Co - venison burgers, beef burgers, crumble, drinks including a bar - cider, lager, wine.
@whatthe_peck - Suffolk-reared fried chicken
And…
@badboiburritos - toasted burritos
@itsotisbreading - sourdough toasties
@tikka_tonic - New Delhi style street food
And…
@thecreperieshack - sweet & savoury crepes
@geegeebakes - cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@fullthrottlecoffeeco - coffees
This is the last Pumpkins by Torchlight for 2026 - don’t miss it!
We’ll be open daily 24-31 October, 9am-5pm over half term. Free entry, no booking needed.
Quieter, ticketed SEN sessions on 27th and 29th, 9am-10am. Tickets available from our website.
See you soon 👋
#roughampumpkins #roughamestate #pumpkinsbytorchlight #burystedmunds
Our new seasonal menu has arrived at Roots Café, bringing a fresh selection of breakfast, brunch and lunch options to enjoy.
The menu includes a fresh corner with granola, overnight oats and fruit bowls, alongside our traditional fry-ups and a wider choice of brunch dishes.
There are eggs and hollandaise with your choice of topping, avocado on sourdough, pulled chicken croissants and mushrooms on toast.
For lunch, the new menu features a range of ciabattas, from roasted courgette with red pepper hummus to pulled pork with sage and onion stuffing, as well as roasted pumpkin with whipped feta and chicken with brie and cranberry.
Salad of the week has also been replaced with something warmer- a soup, perfect for the cooler months.
And for those with a sweet tooth, there are two new seasonal desserts: pumpkin loaf cake with ginger mascarpone and spiced apple swirl with butterscotch sauce. We also have fresh pastries from the Friendly Loaf each day.
Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, meeting friends for lunch or warming up after a walk around the Estate, there’s plenty to enjoy at Roots Café this autumn and winter.
Open daily until 5pm now (4pm on Sundays), making a perfect pit stop after Christmas shopping at our Rougham Estate Christmas Shop.
#rootscafe #roughamestate #newmenu #burystedmunds
The moment we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived! 🎅🏼
Christmas magic has officially started here at Rougham Estate with the opening of our Christmas Shop, marking the start of our biggest season of the year.
This year, we’re inviting you to step inside a Christmas story, with beautifully styled rooms, thousands of decorations, thoughtful gifts and festive inspiration around every corner.
From traditional Christmas charm to playful pops of colour and cosy alpine styling, there’s plenty to discover as you explore.
And this is just the beginning. Our Arts & Crafts Fair returns for five weekends from 14th November, bringing talented makers from across Britain, while Christmas tree sales begin on 20th November.
Roots Café is open daily until 5pm throughout the Christmas season (4pm on Sundays), so why not make a day of it with a coffee, something delicious to eat and a little festive shopping?
Whether you’re starting your Christmas preparations or simply looking for a lovely day out, we can’t wait to welcome you.
Come and step inside our Christmas story and let us know what you think!
Open Monday–Saturday, 9.30am–5pm
Sunday, 9.30am–4pm
Free entry and free parking.
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #BlackthorpeBarn
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