where is the best place to buy water reed for roof thatching from. am looking for good quality reed .?

Answer 1

Norfolk reed is agreed by most to be the best. The real question is are you doing this yourself, or is a master thatcher going to do the work for you. If a someone else is going to be doing the work the following link may help you find a thatcher in your area - http://www.thatch.org/member.htm This site covers Rutland and Leicestershire but has links to other thatching associations.

This site may help if you are going down the DIY route - http://members.lycos.co.uk/thatcher/

Materials: Tip - get a certificate of Nitrogen content less than 3% before buying reed.

You may be able to get a grant to defray some of the cost - 'Many, but by no means all, district councils run historic building grant schemes, but the amount of money they are able, or willing, to offer differs widely.
'If your local authority does operate such a scheme there are a number of conditions that might apply. Typical questions you might be asked are: 'How long have you lived in the property?' 'Are you a tenant or an owner occupier?' and "what is the style of thatch you propose to have on your roof?'
'In general local authorities are becoming much stricter on both style and how thatching is carried out. Your first port of call is the conservation officer, or any official in the planning department of your local district council.'

This association may help with location of local reed suppliers - Thatching Advisory Services Ltd Tel: [phone]

Alternatively, as most reed now comes from France and the Danube basin, due to the high cost of Norfolk reed, you may wish to contact a foreign supplier directly - http://hungareed.com/

Hope this all helps.

Answer 2

I believe all the best thatch came from Norfolk

Try this web site http://www.reedcutters.norfolkbroads.com/

Answer 3

Assuming you are in the UK - try here!
http://www.kompass.co.uk/directory/products/item/0/uk/Roof_thatching_contractors/5220010.htm

Answer 4

norfolk moors