Koren Calder working on creating a woven Away with Willow wicker basket coffin in her woodworking shed. The shed has wooden walls and shelves filled with tools and supplies in the background.
Stacked Away with Willow coffins in different sizes and shapes.

The story so far….

While sitting on Arthur’s Seat looking from Edinburgh out across the Firth of Forth the idea of using my locally grown willow to create a coffin that would provide a gentle, natural farewell occurred to me and so the idea was born…

Through out my career to date (30 years!) I have worked in a wide variety of roles within the charity sector supporting and training those in many different circumstances of need. About 8 years ago along side this work I began rewilding and enhancing a small holding and started to grow a variety of trees as well as a willow patch. Over time this evolved into using the willow to weave baskets in my spare time, as well as working as the Manager for a project called Reading is Caring at the charity Scottish Book Trust. As part of this work at Scottish Book Trust I supported family carers and those they care for and found myself involved in sensitive but important discussions around end of life care.

Then in June 2025, combining all my skills, Away with willow Coffins was born.

I am passionate about the environment and wanted to try and play a part where our natural world could be enhanced and in some ways repaired. I am also keen to create an opportunity where, at a time of sadness and farewell, I can help you incorporate the healing power of the natural world too. By purchasing an Away with Willow Coffin you will be both contributing to the creation of a new woodland and with each tree planted it will be in honour of your recently departed loved one.

So an Away with Willow Coffin is a sustainable option to consider during end of life care preparations, enabling loved ones to return to our natural world in a lovingly, handcrafted construction which includes:

  • Locally grown will0w from just outside Edinburgh;

  • A unique, individual willow coffin personally handcrafted by me.

    Away with Willow Coffins are different from other willow and wooden coffins as they have soft curved rounded ends, and because I keep the bark on (hence the green look) unlike the look of some other willow coffins (who use buff willow) the smell and softer feel of fresh cut willow is retained.

    I use a free-flowing technique which also creates a different texture and over all look. Adding woven willow hearts (which you can find out more about here) I hope will also create the feel of a natural loving farewell in a coffin that I promise I will weave with love.

 
Koren wearing a pink beanie with a pom-pom, a beige sweater, and her grey overalls holding her Border Terrier Maple inside her workshop near Edinburgh, Scotland.