Amazing Willow

What an amazing tree willow is. It is pliable, strong, fast growing and provides excellent material year after year from carefully managed coppicing.

Willow is the only tree that can put down roots and grow if a stick is planted directly into the soil. It has been used for hundreds of years all around the world for fencing, weaving, basket and wicker work.

Our Osier willow is still in leaf and will not be harvested until the leaves have fallen in October or November. The withies will be cut and dried, sorted into lengths and graded for sale. Green willow will be available from November 2020 and brown willow from January 2021.

As soon as the leaves fall, I look forward to seeing the varied coloured stems of the four varieties we grow here at Wyld Wood. Black Maul is one of my favourites and is the most common and highest quality willow grown in Somerset. Black maul is also known as Trianda and grows stems of lovely mid green and dries into a gorgeous olive brown.

Willow loves to grow over underground water and Somerset is the best place in the country to grow quality basket willow.

With it’s strength and pliability, I often think that perhaps we should emulate the qualities of the willow

Be a Willow

Be a willow bend with the wind

Resilient by nature

You are a good friend

Weave your wonders

Weather your storm

Seek sanctuary in your branches

Peaceful soothing calm

If you get cut down

You will not crack

Your pliability and strength ensure you grow back

Create your own basket of kindness and love

Absorb inspiration from the canopy above