Mirror, mirror on the wall ……….. Gerard just finished these 2 extra large mirrors; One is going to a new home in Edinburgh this afternoon and if you want to know who is the fairest in your home, the 2nd one is still available! We make mirrors to your specifications and sizes.
Our next fair will be the Presents Galore in Kelso (Monday evening 2nd of October and Tuesday the 3rd of October 2017). Unfortunately we won’t be able to go to the Chilterns Craft Show, Stonor in August and the Malvern show in September this year.
Engraved House names; made to your specifications; the more natural look or painted in, if it has to stand out more. You can choose your own letter type and size. Let us know what you like and we will make a mock up for your approval.
The Balcony Birdtable. A smaller birdtable to be hung on a wall in a smaller surrounding, like a balcony, court yard etc. The bidtable can also stand free on a ledge, or cill. Not entirely objective, but I do like Gerard’s latest creation; Ideal if you don’t have the space for a free standing bird table or if you just want to something attractive on your wall (it hangs with one screw on the wall).
Tiny but essential in a UK Garden, the Wren. Finally Gerard made a home for one of my favourite, smallest but also loudest birds in our garden. Our Wren box, like all our bird boxes, can easily be hung on every wall or tree/shrub. It can be cleaned, by taken one of the sides off. With pleasure, send everywhere, our Wren boxes are £ 23.50 (excl. postage).
Our Spring and Summer fairs are:
Saturday 22nd April – Hexham Spring Fair
Saturday, Sunday & Monday 29th/30th April and 1st May – Weald of Kent Handmade fair, Penshurst
Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 4th -7th May – Living Crafts, Hatfield
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 30th June, 1st and 2nd July – Scottish Game fair, Perth
Although there will always be somebody at home, our studio will be closed because we will have all our products with us!
NEW! The Windbreaker; a useful accessory to our bird tables. In very windy conditions the seed will ‘literally’ go very quickly as wind gets a hold of it; it will be eaten on the ground and that is not desirable. With a pair of Windbreakers, the seed will remain on the bird table. No tools, no glue and it will RETROFIT on ALL our S&N ‘octagon’ the bird tables I made in the past 5+ years; free-standing, hanging, table versions etc.
A pair can be ordered (£16.- ex P&P – price March 2017).
PS: I will make them also for the Large (9 sided) Bird table when ordered.
Our Christmas Fairs for this year are: 
18-19th November, Ely Cathedral Christmas Fair 
26/27th November, Christmas Slate & Nature Open Days
1-4th December, Living North Christmas Fair, Gosforth Racecourse
9-10th December, Hexham centre Christmas Fair
All other days you are welcome at our studio, but please ring us first!
When we are away at fairs, there will normally be somebody at home, but because most of our stock will be at the fair, contact us before you come over!
The 26th and 27th of November it’s our special annual Studio Day to do your ‘bespoke’ Christmas shopping. All hand engravings are free (even the wicked ones) and done whilst you wait. Together with our Dutch Chocolate treat (and those not driving maybe a second shot) will make your rural day complete. 
Other days you are of course also welcome, but please give us a ring in advance, sometimes we also have to do some shopping!, 01434 270331.
Our Window feeder, hand made from recycled British roofing slate, is one of Slate and Nature’s most popular products. Over the last few years, worldwide, over 3000 windows are transformed into a bird display. This specially designed feeder, is slowly conquering the world, from Tokyo Japan, Johannesburg Africa, Missouri USA, to Finland, Turkey etc. Nationally and internationally appreciated and enjoyed to watch and observe your feathered friends from close by. It has become a wonderful gift for your birds, your self, friends and family, no-matter what age, gender or who you are… everybody likes it.
Our 2000th Window feeder went to Monty Don who responded with;
‘This a great design, I already know where to put it!’
In September 2016 our Window feeder was featured in ‘Escape to the Country’, just follow the link and go to minute 16 and see how the window feeder is been made:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqyKCLSANQI ;if this link is not active please let us know, we’ll re-activate it!
Ordering a Window feeder:
You can place your order by sending an e-mail, with your details, to: info@slateandnature.com, or you can phone us on: 00 44 (0) 1434 270331. Alternatively, you can visit our Riverside Studio in West Woodburn. Our studio is open most days, but please ring in advance to check if we are in.
The price of the Window feeder is £ 19.50, postage Royal Mail 2nd class £ 3.- (price March 2019) (£ 21.50). You can pay by banktransfer or by sending us a cheque, but we will arrange this later.
Jeanette and Gerard van der Veen, Slate and Nature Park Cottage, West Woodburn, Northumberland NE48 2SG
