The willow alley planted this time last year suffered in the drought. Going through the alley, I’ve left a lot still in the ground hoping for a revival. I’ve also protected the whole line from hungry muntjac (yes evidence of munching) by laying the brush residue from coppicing thorny hawthorn around the young stems. Loulabelle – my willow growing guru – her idea. We shall see.
With some new cuttings of willow from Lin, collected on a fine January day, there are two willow areas planned. An extension of the original as part of the agro forestry and a new section on the wetter clay area, extending one of the curves of the trees.
With a Dome planned, and Louabelle’s energy, we made it to Peters willow field to cut some long tall willow from his far field that had been left to grow out. I imagine it wold have been planted by Wil Berry, and I’m going to search out the photo I have of him outside Metfield Village Hall, weaving, when Bob and I had just moved into Metfield and started up a ‘farmers market’. In my minds eye, that photo, but I cannot find it now.
To see such care, such order, with a timeless quality, the stacks of willow in their colour codes, protected in wooden sheds all beside a medieval church – suddenly lightened the damp spirit for it was a wet and dull day we chose to cut.
I returned to Kaliwoods and was so grateful when the well bedraggled team came to help me unpack the stems.
The following day, the rain kept off, a mist in the morning across the land. With Emily we finally planted the stems from Lin and with Loulabelle in charge, she made a circle on the mound, and with the forest school children and adults, planted it all out. An amazing person (NAME) bought up wheel barrows of chippings to lay on the membrane keep in place and provide habitat. Pancake the duck watched us.
Black Maul (a Salix triandra)
Dicky Meadows (a Salix purpurea)
Flanders Red
Yellow variety unknown.
Kaliwood 