That first structure was so heart breaking to see the state that it was in! Especially all that hard work that put into it and how exquisite it had looked! It looked good after your maintenance and repairs on it.
I know some children who would climb it, assuming it could hold them like a man-made structure. If a child ran ahead on the path while mum or dad was busy with the baby, these kids could be almost all the way up in a moment. It's not a good or bad thing, it's just the way some children are before parents have had the opportunity to teach them about it.
Thanks for sharing this! It's amazing to see how these living willow projects have developed over two years. The time-lapse perspective really highlights the beauty and resilience of natural structures. Your explanations and answers to common questions are super helpful. Inspiring work!
Thank you Hanna! This is fantastic! I love seeing the update on the Living willow structures, and the hard graft you two put in restoring the structure! I am in the midst of growing a living willow retaining wall/pollard at our site here in Canada (west coast), I have chosen to use Salix koriyanagi "Rubykins" for the wall, as it has proven itself a good grower, and good for our site. The plan is to train it at 1m/3' high with the occasional high pollard so often, until it reaches good strength to support a raised terrace bed on the slope above the structure with which we can grow shade loving perennial vegetables. So I can stack the functions of gaining basketry rods, food/medicine production, and slope retention/terracing. We thought though, that we might install a mini swale on the downward side of the wall to better retain the rains. All the best as always!
"I love your content and am becoming obsessed with lively willow structures! I initially thought the willow would grow and thicken over time, which got me wondering-what if I encouraged roots to form on the branches before planting them? Could that help prevent the willow from dying?"
20:30 makes me curious if weeping willow can be integrated into established structures that are already pretty strong... I'm sure most people just enjoy the beauty of the 'weeping' so I wonder if a hybrid structure would be viable or if it would not be able to survive once the main structure is established
@kerryL, I was thinking the same thing:). Weaving some whips near some of the entrances. Or just use the upright pussy willows like Hanna did in the last structure that was shown. 8 thought it gave a nice touch:)
Thank you for all the wonderful videos and the update on these structures. I am in Northland, New Zealand (inland, quite a bit of rain, humid in summer, cool in winter) with clay soil and have successfully grown Salix purpurea ‘Glenmark’ using weedmat to reduce grass pressure. I'd like to weave fences as low windbreaks using this willow - it it quite a strong rod that seems reluctant to stay where I want it - will this willow be suitable for a fence? Should I soak it before planting and weaving? I notice that you have thick mulch against the base of the rods, will that be ok in my more humid climate? Thank you!
Do you prefer to avoid cutting rods from the existing structure because it would create more branches? Could one add some rods with the intention to come back in a year and coppice them so it would put out additional branches to weave in and thicken the walls?
Also, this gives me ideas about growing a living fence to keep the cows and hens out of the yard. I'm excited to pitch the idea to my uncle, who is the one to help repair fences every time they break through.
I do not cut the existing rods for the first few years at least until the structure is well established as it depletes the willow. I only add rods to make the structure stronger, not to harvest from.
Gratitude pour votre merveilleux travail, une belle harmonie avec Mère nature. Pourriez mettre une version en Français, il n'y a que le sous sous-titre en Anglais. Bien a vous ,bisous de Normandie ❤❤❤🌄🌄🌄🙏🙏🙏😘😘
Thank you for documenting this. The work you do is so important to the world right now!
That first structure was so heart breaking to see the state that it was in! Especially all that hard work that put into it and how exquisite it had looked! It looked good after your maintenance and repairs on it.
Thank you greatly for this update, I often think of these structures and wonder how they are doing. You are very talented and I admire your heart.
So heartbreaking to see your work treated so poorly! 😢 I’m so happy to see you were able to salvage it and get it stable again!
I know some children who would climb it, assuming it could hold them like a man-made structure. If a child ran ahead on the path while mum or dad was busy with the baby, these kids could be almost all the way up in a moment.
It's not a good or bad thing, it's just the way some children are before parents have had the opportunity to teach them about it.
Thanks for sharing this! It's amazing to see how these living willow projects have developed over two years. The time-lapse perspective really highlights the beauty and resilience of natural structures. Your explanations and answers to common questions are super helpful. Inspiring work!
You and Lauren sure did well repairing the first structure. A lot of work, and careful tending.
Thanks!
Beautyful work!
Thank you so much for answering my question about deer
I am so grateful that you did this. Thanks and love, from South Afrika
It look beautiful when you had carried out your repairs.
I found that very moving, Hanna...
Well done on the restoration, ladies.
Oh thanks very much! It was fun fixing it...
Thank you so much. One day I will visit you. I'm living nearby
So informative and helpful ❤ thank you so much
Thanks for the up date on these!
Thank you Hanna! This is fantastic! I love seeing the update on the Living willow structures, and the hard graft you two put in restoring the structure! I am in the midst of growing a living willow retaining wall/pollard at our site here in Canada (west coast), I have chosen to use Salix koriyanagi "Rubykins" for the wall, as it has proven itself a good grower, and good for our site. The plan is to train it at 1m/3' high with the occasional high pollard so often, until it reaches good strength to support a raised terrace bed on the slope above the structure with which we can grow shade loving perennial vegetables. So I can stack the functions of gaining basketry rods, food/medicine production, and slope retention/terracing. We thought though, that we might install a mini swale on the downward side of the wall to better retain the rains. All the best as always!
Wow amazing! Let us know how the structure gets on over time!
I’d like to learn to do this
"I love your content and am becoming obsessed with lively willow structures! I initially thought the willow would grow and thicken over time, which got me wondering-what if I encouraged roots to form on the branches before planting them? Could that help prevent the willow from dying?"
20:30 makes me curious if weeping willow can be integrated into established structures that are already pretty strong... I'm sure most people just enjoy the beauty of the 'weeping' so I wonder if a hybrid structure would be viable or if it would not be able to survive once the main structure is established
@kerryL, I was thinking the same thing:). Weaving some whips near some of the entrances. Or just use the upright pussy willows like Hanna did in the last structure that was shown. 8 thought it gave a nice touch:)
Thank you for all the wonderful videos and the update on these structures. I am in Northland, New Zealand (inland, quite a bit of rain, humid in summer, cool in winter) with clay soil and have successfully grown Salix purpurea ‘Glenmark’ using weedmat to reduce grass pressure. I'd like to weave fences as low windbreaks using this willow - it it quite a strong rod that seems reluctant to stay where I want it - will this willow be suitable for a fence? Should I soak it before planting and weaving? I notice that you have thick mulch against the base of the rods, will that be ok in my more humid climate? Thank you!
Do you prefer to avoid cutting rods from the existing structure because it would create more branches?
Could one add some rods with the intention to come back in a year and coppice them so it would put out additional branches to weave in and thicken the walls?
Also, this gives me ideas about growing a living fence to keep the cows and hens out of the yard. I'm excited to pitch the idea to my uncle, who is the one to help repair fences every time they break through.
I do not cut the existing rods for the first few years at least until the structure is well established as it depletes the willow.
I only add rods to make the structure stronger, not to harvest from.
Gratitude pour votre merveilleux travail, une belle harmonie avec Mère nature. Pourriez mettre une version en Français, il n'y a que le sous sous-titre en Anglais.
Bien a vous ,bisous de Normandie ❤❤❤🌄🌄🌄🙏🙏🙏😘😘
Free food and experience Ireland in exchange for cutting your willows! When do we start? 😀😀
I have the intention to creatie a willow fence Here in Aalst, Belgium . I think that’s where your roots are.
You look like a van gogh painting