Stockist Spotlight: Helmsley Walled Garden - Where Craft and Community Bloom

Every month, we shine a light on one of our wonderful stockists - the shops and spaces that help bring Frafra's baskets to life in new homes, gardens, and hands. With summer in full swing and everything in bloom, it felt only right to celebrate Helmsley Walled Garden: a peaceful, purpose-filled place tucked beneath the ruins of Helmsley Castle in North Yorkshire.

We’re so happy to be part of this joyful space. Their gift shop is rooted in community and care, filled with handmade goods that reflect the rhythm of the garden outside, a perfect home for our baskets.

A Garden with Heart

Helmsley Walled Garden is more than just beautiful, though it’s certainly that too. Originally built in 1759 as a kitchen garden, it was brought back to life in the 1990s and is now a vibrant space where plants, people, and possibilities grow side by side.

It’s a place of therapeutic horticulture, where volunteers of all ages and abilities find connection, calm, and purpose through working with nature. That spirit of inclusion and care runs through everything they do. There is no surprise they were awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024, a huge and well-deserved honour!

A Shop Full of Thoughtful Things

Their gift shop is curated with the same thought and heart as the garden, featuring small-batch crafts, natural wellness products, gardening books, and locally made treats. The selection changes with the seasons, reflecting the ever-evolving garden outside.

It’s the kind of place where everything feels like it has a story. This makes it an ideal home for our baskets. Like the garden, our pieces are made slowly, by hand, and rooted in tradition.

A Place to Slow Down

There’s something special about wandering through the garden paths, stopping for a slice of cake in the café, or browsing the shop for a gift that feels just right. Helmsley Walled Garden offers more than a lovely afternoon out. It’s a living, growing space where craft, nature, and community come together.

From willow-weaving workshops to open-air events, from heritage planting to eco-conscious growing practices, Helmsley invites people in to learn, connect, and feel good about how they spend their time - and what they take home with them.

Frafra's baskets at Helmsley

We’re proud to see our handwoven baskets alongside so many other thoughtful, beautiful things in their shop. Each one is made by artisan weavers in Northern Ghana using traditional techniques and natural materials - crafted with care, just like everything at Helmsley.

Whether you’re picking herbs in your garden, heading to the farmer’s market, or just looking for a special piece with meaning. Our baskets are made to be used and loved for years to come. 

Planning a Visit?

Here’s what you’ll find:
🌿 A garden full of colour, calm, and seasonal beauty
🧺 A shop with handmade gifts, garden tools, books, and more
🍰 A café serving seasonal lunches, cakes, and countryside views
🎨 Workshops and garden trails to enjoy at your own pace

📍 Visit Helmsley Walled Garden
Cleveland Way, Helmsley, North Yorkshire YO62 5AH
Open Wednesday–Sunday, March–December (last entry 4 pm)
🌐 helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk

📸 @frafra_baskets @helmsleywalledgarden 

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