OUR STORY

The garden Trug

The first trug was made in the C4. The name derived from an Anglo Saxon word ‘trog which means boat-shaped.

Popularity for this unusual basket initially stemmed from the fact that Queen Victoria was seen buying one at a London garden show.

This royal purchase was sufficient to create public interest and the trug has remained in favour ever since, simply because of its’ strength, beauty, durability and versatility.

It is not uncommon here at Woodman’s World to be asked to repair a trug. One recently repaired trug had originally been bought 35 years ago at an agricultural show, and the frame was as good as new, which proves its strength and durability.

The trug can only be made by hand and traditionally,
is fashioned from sweet chestnut and willow. It is very
labour intensive and, like all true crafts, requires skill
and a love for creating.

The sweet chestnut is peeled into strips or wands’ to make the frame which consists of a horizontal oblong with another wand forming the handle. After steaming, the wands are placed into a jig. and when set, some 48 hours later, they are removed and the horizontal frame is married up to the handle and nailed. The lovely boat shaped body of the trug is produced by placing strips of willow inside the frame, each strip slightly overlapping as in clinker construction.

Trugs are popular not only for use in the garden as versatile garden baskets to carry fruit, flowers, vegetables or weeds. For example a trug provides an attractive container for flower arrangements or makes an unusual hanging basket. the trug can also be used as a food hamper for Christmas. Easter or any other special occasions.