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4th October 2007

Be creative with Willow

Using Willow to make wigwams, fences, tunnels and sculptures

Willow is an interesting plant which you can use to make living or non-living structures, sculptures and fences. It is tough, quick-growing, pliable and easy to use. Working with willow is environmentally friendly; it has traditionally been grown as coppice where the cycle of growth and harvesting provides a sustainable source of rods for new structures. You could try growing a few varieties in your own garden for their attractive colourful bark which is especially prominent in the first year’s growth.

Now is a good time to start planning a project. Willow rods can be planted from late autumn to early spring. If you have your own willow, this is a very cheap project and you don’t need any special gardening skills to succeed.  It is exciting to create a living structure that can either be pruned and woven to shape or simply left alone to grow wild.

When choosing a site you have to remember that willow will naturally seek out any source of water, so you must plant them well away from underground drainage systems. It needs sunlight and will not grow in deep shade. Most varieties prefer damp soils, but the smaller, narrow leaved varieties are better in drier soils.

It is important (but not essential) to stop grass and weed growth around a newly planted structure; this can be done using mulch such as an old carpet (not foam-backed), newspaper, cardboard, bark chippings or straw.

Wigwams and Domes

Making a wigwam is a fun and easy project to do with the whole family. They make a good play house and a tunnel can be added at a later date. You can make it any size to suit your needs, but remember that the larger the wigwam the longer the rods you will need. Mark out your circle, remove a strip of turf where you will plant your willow rods, loosen the soil and mix with some homemade compost if available. If the soil is hard make holes with a crowbar about 15-20cm (6-8”) apart and plant the willow rods (2 year old shoots recommended) about 30 cm deep (12”). If you are using a mulch mat, spread this on the ground and plant your rods through it. You can cover this with some bark chippings or gravel to create a dry area for the children to sit and play.

Fences

Willow fences are easy to construct and can be made to any height; low to delineate a special area or high to screen an unsightly view. They are also an effective windbreak, which gently slow down the wind as it passes through.  Plant sturdy uprights 45cm deep (18”) and about 25-50cm (10-20”) apart. Plant slightly thinner “diagonals” in pairs evenly spaced out between the posts to create a criss-cross diagonal pattern. Tie the diagonals together where they cross each other and prune to the required height.

Tunnels

I have seen some excellent tunnels in school grounds, much appreciated by children. Low tunnels will appeal to young children as they are not accessible to adults. They are straight- forward to construct, think of it as two parallel fences bent over and joined at the top. Make them long or short, wiggly or straight to suit your area.

Most importantly, enjoy your willow projects and if you are a bit artistic you can make beautiful living or non-living sculptures.

Facts about Willow

Willow has been used for making fences and hurdles for centuries. There are also records of willow being laid on the ground in ancient times to form trackways over  boggy terrain. Willow has also been used for medicinal purposes and records indicate that Hippocrates used willow bark for pain relief in 400BC. In more modern times, (early 19th century) the active ingredient, salicylic acid was isolated and an artificially synthesised form of this is the active ingredient in today’s aspirin.

For more information contact Anna Williams, 01248-360981, 07900267546, email annawilliams@wildlifetrustswales.org. , 376 High Street, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 1YE