Willow Harvest at Radford Mill Farm

This weekend we’ve been helping out at Radford Mill Farm with their willow harvest. Willow cuttings had been planted approximately a year ago and had already grown 8-14 feet in height depending on species. There were several thousand trees of around 10 different species, most planted at 1m spacing, some a little tighter. A black plastic mulch had been used, now covered in last years leaves.

1 year old, before cutting.

It was quite a job and took a dozen people the whole day to cut the field. A range of saws and secateurs were used with people taking turns at cutting, collecting, sorting and bundling.

Many hands make light work

The trees are cut right back, with only a few buds of last years growth left above ground. It is from these buds that this years growth, at least as vigorous as last years, will come.

All that remains after harvesting

By mid afternoon two thirds of the field was cleared. They did a good job last year with the uniform planting!

Two thirds of the field cleared

The different species and lengths needed to be sorted and bundled. This willow will be used for basket work, sculpture, living fencing and protecting the banks of a stream that runs through the farm.

Willow is sorted and bundled

To expand the willow plantation all that is needed are cuttings. Approximately a foot long, these cuttings are simply pushed into the ground (the right way up!) leaving a few buds above surface. This is how the willow we were cutting this weekend started a year ago. The simplicity and rate of growth is really amazing.

~1 foot cuttings

New cuttings, ~1m spacing

Finally, with the harvest complete we started on the fence. Long rods of over 10 foot are just pushed six inches into the ground, 3 inches apart and at 45 degrees to each other. They are woven between one another with the tops twisted together. The idea is that each rod will root and new growth can be woven back into the fence. We’ll definitely be back towards the end of the summer to see how it’s grown!

Living willow fence

Living willow fence

It was a really fun weekend, hard work but great to be outside and working towards something so tangible. I’m really impressed at how simple and productive willow growing can be and how versatile the product.