National Dormouse Conference Reading 11 November 2023
Bespoke Folk will be partnering with the Nottinghamshire Dormouse Group again this year at the National Dormouse Conference with a variety of cards and other products available to purchase from their stand at the conference.
‘PUFFINS’ and ‘HEDGEHOG’ Foil designs
The HEDGEHOG design shows a hedgehog poking through an undergrowth of flowers made up of wood forget-me-not, English bluebells, lesser celandine and ivy.
The PUFFINS design shows a cliff dwelling Atlantic puffin in sea thrift waiting for its mate to return to the nest.
Rose & flower floral panel garden wall feature
A solid metal panel featuring roses and flowers designed to hang on a garden wall as a feature. It has 5 roses, 6 flowers and 4 leaves made into a bunch. It is then encircled in a flat metal bar. The panel has been allowed to weather so it has taken on the aged look. Rose & flower wall feature details
Christmas at Kenwood / Christmas at Wrest Park 2023
A new light trail site at Wrest Park Bedfordshire is happening this year with shepherds crooks made for the path barriers. Wrest Park information and to book your tickets for 2023.
Should you be near Nottingham then there also is Christmas at Wollaton 2023 bookings so you do not need to travel to London to see the lights..
Metalwork for Heeley Bank Antiques Centre, Sheffield
I have made a variety of garden plant supports and frames for Heeley Bank Antiques Centre which are on display and ready to buy for this year’s growing season. Available to purchase are:
* Half circle plant supports in 3 sizes
* Tripod growing frames 1800mm high
* Peony support frames 600mm high
* Obelisk frames available in 3 sizes – 600mm / 1200mm / 1800mm high
Christmas tree dormouse ornaments
Made to order, these are Christmas tree Dormouse and Hedgehog ornaments which were initially made for the National Dormouse Conference. I have added them to the Resin Casts shop so please visit there if you wish to purchase.
They can be painted in a bronze oil based metallic spray or a soft pink non-oil metallic spray and as such, the bronze oil paint takes a few days to cure so approximately a lead time of 4 days.
Christmas at Wollaton Shepherds crooks
Some of the shepherds crooks being made for the Christmas at Wollaton event from the 3rd December 2021 to 6th January 2022.
Square lobster pot & pair of tripod plant support frames
The Square lobster pot is made in the style of a lobster pot but instead of it being round, I have made it with a square frame and the curved lobster pot style on top.
Also available is a pair of Tripod frames. These are already rusted and will fit straight into your garden and look like they have been there for years.
Dragonfly garden stakes & Wildlife garden stakes
I made a limited series of 7 dragonfly metal garden stakes using expanded mesh for the wings. Using this type of metal will offer a different look when viewed from different angles. All are slightly different in design and therefore are unique. They are set on 8mm solid bar, 1.5 metres tall.
I have also made more Garden Stakes with wildlife cast finials using aluminium powder impregnated in resin. These are set on 8mm solid bar, 1.5 metres tall.
Iceland supermarket to remove palm oil from own brand products
A big congratulations to Iceland supermarket on the long overdue decision to remove palm oil from its own brand products. It is not effective immediately but it is a start. It now depends if consumers will stop buying any and all products which contain palm fat, palm oil or any derivative thereof. If so, all manufacturers of food products and therefore all supermarkets will have to follows Iceland’s lead.
Perennial & Kailzie Gardens
We have two new stockists of cards and our first stockist in the Tweed Valley.
Perennial has an online shop and cards are available to purchase directly from there. Perennial are the only UK charity dedicated to helping people who work in horticulture when times get tough.
Kailzie Gardens in the Tweed Valley 26 miles south of Edinburgh showcases carpets of flowers depending on the season, a walled garden, bait and fly fishing in the River Tweed and live viewing of the Tweed Valley Ospreys. Plenty of information on their website which also includes accommodation information.
Creswell Crags ‘Rock Art’ designs merchandise
Courtenay created numerous designs for Creswell Crags and Paul has been applying these designs to various merchandise.
Creswell Crags 6 ‘Rock Art’ greeting card designs
Creswell Crags commissioned Courtenay to create some designs to be used as greeting cards and other merchandise to promote and highlight the ancient cave art drawings.
Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust
Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust has 6 designs available to purchase from their shop in their head office building located on the High Street in Welshpool.
Southwell Garden Centre & The Harley Gallery Shop Welbeck
Southwell Garden Centre on Fiskerton Road is now stocking almost the whole range of our wildlife greeting cards and notecard packs. They are stocking 27 Standard designs, 14 Foil designs, 2 notecard packs and 2 Christmas Foil cards.
The Harley Gallery Shop located on the Welbeck Estate, Nottinghamshire has taken on 6 Standard designs and 6 Foil designs should you be in the area and wanting one of our cards. They have plenty of gift options plus the cafe next door is worth a visit too.
North Wales Wildlife Trust
North Wales Wildlife Trust is now a stockist of a range of Standard cards including the OSPREY card. They have a shop in the head office building on Garth Road in Bangor, and depending on the seasonal opening times, they have a kiosk in Holyhead Breakwater Park and also a shop in the Llandudno Great Orme Visititor Centre.
Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland, Wiveton Hall and Durham Wildlife Trust
Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland has recently taken on a number of designs which are available at their branch meetings.
Wiveton Hall Shop near Cley next the Sea in north Norfolk is also stocking a range of designs. Wiveton Hall is a ‘flint-faced, Dutch-gabled, Jacobean manor house built in the 17th century’ with holiday cottages, pick your own fruit farm, cafe, shop, gardens and art exhibitions.
Durham Wildlife Trust manages sites in Durham and Tyne and Wear counties. They have 35 reserves under their management and two visitor centres at Low Barns Nature Reserve and Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve.
Yorkshire Arboretum, The Lodge Forest Centre, Essex Wildlife Trust
Yorkshire Arboretum located near Castle Howard is a 120 acre landscape of ponds, lakes and parkland with a collection of over 6000 trees from around the world. We now have a collection of cards available in the shop which includes 14 Standard designs and 8 Foil designs.
The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre near Aberfoyle, Scotland has taken on 12 Standard designs, 4 Foil designs and a notecard 8 pack.
Langdon Visitor Centre is now stocking a wide range of 21 Standard designs and 12 Foil designs. Situated in a 461 acre nature reserve, see the map below for more details on where to walk.
The Naze Centre in Walton-on-the-Naze has recently become a stockist of 17 Standard designs and 9 Foil designs.
Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, located on the Mucking Flats which is a SSSI reserve and has views over the Thames Estuary. They have expanded on our range to 19 Standard designs and 12 Foil designs.
Belfairs Centre and That little gift shop
Belfairs Woodland Centre near Leigh-on-Sea, Essex has taken on 22 Standard designs and 12 Foil designs.
Another new stockist is That Little Gift Shop, High Street in Lincoln who has taken 6 Standard and 6 Foil designs. A really nice shop to visit as they stock a wide range of high quality gifts. They are located not far from the train line crossing on the High Street.
Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre, Thorndon Countryside Centre and Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre all in Essex Wildlife Trust are now stocking a range of our newest Foil designs.
Bedfords Park centre
Bedfords Park Visitor Centre in Havering-atte-Bower, Essex is now stocked with 20 Standard designs and 10 Foil designs. For more information, visit their centre
Kedleston Hall and Butterfly Conservation East Midlands
Kedleston Hall located north of Derby has taken on a range of products which include 7 signed wildlife prints, 15 foil cards and 2 notecard 8 packs.
Butterfly Conservation East Midlands has stocked up on cards for their various events they host. They will be having 2 events in November with one event being the AGM and Members Day on the 10th November. They have available 8 Standard cards, 7 Foil cards and our Flying Insects 8 pack. .
Spurn Nature Reserve Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
A new visitor centre has been built at Spurn Nature Reserve and opened before Easter 2018. We are proud to be a supplier of our greeting cards to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at Spurn.
WWT Martin Mere & The Scottish Crannog Centre
WWT Martin Mere has restocked with a big selection of designs, 17 new designs are now available at their gift shop.
A new stockist situated on Loch Tay in Perthshire is The Scottish Crannog Centre. The centre is a reconstruction of an ancient Loch dwelling which will take you back around 2500 years ago. Open from 30th March to 30th October, you can purchase one of our cards as the shop has stocked 32 standard card designs.
WWT Welney & Sandwell Park Farm
We have the first new stockist for 2018, Sandwell Park Farm in West Bromwich has taken a small range of greeting cards. Located in the Sandwell Valley Country Park there are two shops, 660 acres of parkland, food and craft fairs, birdwatching at the RSPB nature reserve, adventure park and a lot more. Just off Junction 1 of the M5 motorway.
WWT Welney has just taken on 8 designs, these being bird and invertebrate designs. If you like our cards then please call into the gift shop and help support Welney and bespoke folk. If you like swans then this is the place to visit as in winter there are thousands of whooper and Bewick’s swans.
WINNER of the framed ‘Osprey’ print at Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust is…
Janet Pawley of Hinkley.
The draw for the successful raffle of the framed and signed ‘Osprey’ print took place on the 7th November via random selection by staff at Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre.
Janet is a regular visitor to Rutland Water and was extremely happy to be told she was the winner of the ‘Osprey’. Janet (pictured below) collected her coveted prize which was presented to her by Dale Martin, Education and Events Ranger at Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre.
Nottingham Lakeside Arts Djanogly Gallery
The Djanogly Gallery, Nottingham Lakeside Arts which is part of the University of Nottingham’s public arts programme, has taken on a wide range of 30 wildlife greeting cards. These include our Christmas Foil card range so perfect for those who are wanting to get in early for Christmas purchases.
WWT Washington and Hauxley Wildlife Centre
WWT Washington Wetland Centre at Washington, Tyne & Wear has taken on a range of 12 greeting cards and Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s new visitor centre at Hauxley Nature has taken on 11 greeting cards.
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is our first stockist in the Norfolk area, taking on 29 Standard and 3 Foil designs so there is quite a range to choose from if you are searching for a wildlife greeting card in the Great Yarmouth area. Thrigby Hall is a supporter of The World Zoo Conservation Strategy and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and houses a variety of bird species, cat & tigers, primates, red panda, reptiles and small mammals.
Blenheim Palace & WWT Slimbridge
The Blenheim Palace East Courtyard Shop has taken on a large selection of Bird and Insect greeting cards including our 5 Butterfly cards which works well with the Butterfly House (number 26 on their Visitor Map) located in The Pleasure Gardens. I am sure there will be an enormous amount to do and see when you visit the estate.
WWT Slimbridge in Gloustershire is now stocking a range of wetland and wading bird designs available from their gift shop. Plenty of things to do and wildlife to see to keep the family busy for a day. And definitely a place to visit if you like birds!
Look who it is with our metallic foil ‘Ruby-tailed wasp’ greeting card!!
Lorna Griffith (Notts Dormouse Group Chairman) shared one of Courtenay’s favourite designs ‘Ruby-tailed wasp‘ with Chris Packham at ‘An Audience With Chris Packham’ on Tuesday 11th April at the Nottingham Playhouse. Did you know you can purchase this card and more insect related designs from Buglife to help raise awareness and funds for conservation and education efforts for all things bugs.
Win a framed signed ‘Osprey’ print at Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
To celebrate the successful return of the Ospreys to Rutland Water Nature Reserve this year, we are donating a signed and framed ‘Osprey’ print to one lucky visitor! Just purchase one or more Bespoke Folk greetings cards or card packs from the Rutland Water centres and fill out a ticket to go into the draw! Tickets are available at both the Anglian Water Bird Watching Centre at Egleton and Lyndon Visitor Centre (where you can view the Ospreys on the Manton Bay nest and watch their behaviour via live cameras).
English Heritage and Bradgate Park
bespoke folk welcomes two new stockists of our greeting cards in late March.
English Heritage has taken on a couple of designs to add to their 25 shops throughout England. English Heritage manages over 400 historic buildings, monument and sites throughout England meaning you do not have travel far to experience one of their sites.
Bradgate Park, just north of Leicester with easy access off the M1 or A46, is an 830 acre park which was first mentioned as Bradgate Park in 1241 as a hunting park. Along with ancient oaks and the deers, there are Precambrian outcrops which can be seen near the surface making it one of the few places these can be seen in Great Britain. Bradgate Park have taken on 5 designs with one seasonal ‘RED DEER‘ design.
3 new greeting cards Moths, Bats and Long tailed tit
Courtenay has just completed 3 new greeting card designs which are available to purchase.
TM00-17 ‘BLACK AND WHITE TIGERS’ The intricate details of (clockwise top left) Jersey tiger moth, Cream-spot tiger moth, Wood tiger moth and Scarlet tiger moth are showcased in this new design
LT00-17 ‘LONG-TAILED TIT’ Long-tailed tit in Spring blossoms
SB00-17 ‘STAINED GLASS BATS’ Brown long-eared bats and pipistrelle bats fly around Large Yellow Underwing moths which are drawn to the moonlight in this Gothic-inspired stained glass rose window
College Lake Visitor Centre, Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre
College Lake, part of Berkshire Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust which is a reserve created on an old chalk quarry. For the birdwatchers, they have 11 hides dotted around the reserve and they also cater for families with children with their ‘Nature Tots’ events. In the shop, our whole range of cards are available for purchase.
Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre is part of the Forestry Commission and is located 5 miles west of Keswick in the Lake District. With walking, biking, orienteering, children Wildplay trail, bike hire shop, GoApe Adventures and a cafe and shop, there will be plenty to keep you busy. They will complete the renovation of the shop and will be ready for the beginning of March so a selected range of our cards will be available to purchase in Cumbria.
Reg Taylors Garden Centre
The latest stockist of greeting cards Reg Taylors Garden Centre in Southwell has taken on a selected range to add to their lovely giftware shop.
Signed Wildlife Prints
There is a new line to compliment our wildlife greeting card range, large format signed prints. There are 8 designs, four are in colour and four are in black and white or sepia. All are personally signed by Courtenay Holden, are enclosed in a cello bag with a cardboard backing board. For details on each one, please visit our Wall Art Prints section.
Creswell Crags Art Exhibition : October 2016
Thanks to Creswell Crags, we have the opportunity to exhibit our range of art from abstract paintings, greeting cards, signed prints and metalwork until the end of 2016. If you are in the Welbeck / Worksop area and wish to see the exhibit then please pay a visit to Creswell Crags Visitor Centre.
Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife ‘Glaslyn Osprey Project’
Welcome to Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Osprey Project based near Prenteg Porthmadog and is a community wildlife group set up in 2013 to continue the work of protecting breeding ospreys in the Glaslyn Valley.
‘Osprey’ design & notecard packs now available
A new ‘Bird’ design is in stock and available for purchase. Along with this design, Courtenay has created a line of notecards which are available as 8 packs. We have a ‘Flying Insects’ series and ‘Bird’ series. The notecards are 65mm wide x 105mm high so they are perfect for writing a short message or just to say ‘thank you’.
Sleeping dormouse on hazel leaf resin casts
A limited number of sculpted cast Sleeping Dormouse on a hazel leaf are available to purchase. Finished as true to life or matt gold.
National Dormouse Conference 2016
Courtenay will be attending the National Dormouse Conference held at the Palmer Building – University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6UR on Friday 9th September 2016. She will host a display stand with information regarding Nottinghamshire Dormouse Group plus items for sale including wildlife greeting cards, paintings, metalwork.
Blue Tin Produce farm shop
After a visit to Castell Henllys Pembrokeshire and a query with us, the farm shop in the Chilterns has a selected range of wildlife greeting cards for purchase, along with their free range, traditionally reared, rare breed pork and beef plus many other produce items in their shop.
Birdfair 2016, Rutland Water Leicestershire
bespoke folk are partnering with Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust for Birdfair 2016 at Rutland Water, 19 to 21 August. We have 2 spinners on display within the Anglican Water Birdwatching Centre, one which displays our ‘Bird’ range, new notecard 8 packs and Christmas 4 pack Foil Butterfly cards and the other spinner displaying the rest of our ‘Wildlife’ cards. We are also releasing our ‘Osprey’ greeting card at the Birdfair so it can be seen and purchased from the Birdwatching Centre or from the Osprey stand in the main fair.
Clumber Park National Trust
Our latest partner who is stocking an extensive range of our greeting cards is the Clumber Park shop, National Trust based in Nottinghamshire.
Wall mounted vertical garden pot plant holder
A wall mounted pot holder which utilises the vertical wall space for container gardening. This design is made to hold two herb pots and situated next to the kitchen door to make access easy. This holder can be made with many cradles and the size of the cradle can be made to any size for any pot.
Two ‘Fan’ plant support frames
Recently made are two ‘Fan’ plant support frames for fitting inside a large pot for a creeper to grow on. Made from flat steel for the outer frame to provide a sense of depth and square bar featuring two scrolled rosettes to add something more to the look of the frame. Details can be seen her of the Growing Frame Fan.
Obelisks with cast urn finials
Completed and installed are four obelisks designed for climbing roses. These are made from 20mm square tubing, are banded with 20mm flat bar and topped with a cast iron urn finial. For more details, visit Obelisk rose growing frames.
RSPB and Peak District National Park
Welcome to our latest stockists of Wildlife Greeting Cards:
The RSPB which will be stocking a range in their retail shops through out the UK; Peak District National Park (Castleton and Edale Visitor Centres)
