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--- livw:living_willow_structures [2025/12/05 10:36] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ livw:living_willow_structures [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Living willow structures
+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]].
+====== Living willow structures ======
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-## What are living willow structures?
+===== What are living willow structures? =====
 They're garden features like fences, domes, arches, screens, windbreaks, play tunnels or more artistic creations, that are alive - made of willow. Willow is a most amazing plant. You can cut off a length, stick it in the ground, and it will grow. You can stick it in the ground horizontally and it will root downward and shoot upward. You can even stick it in the ground upside down and it will take! It grows incredibly quickly, making it a prime candidate for a lot of research into use for biomass burning. It also loves water, and therefore can be planted in very wet ground, where other plants would not thrive.
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
 ![living willow dome](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-dome.jpg)
 <caption>
- A living willow dome in summer; you can build them any size, and kids will love it. (Image: Julie Starks)
+ _A living willow dome in summer; you can build them any size, and kids will love it. (Image: Julie Starks)_
 </caption>
 </figure>
@@ Line 29: / Line 30: @@
 ![willow rods](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-rods.jpg)
 <caption>
--year-old willow rods (right), 1-year old growth (middle) and young whips (left) with a roll of Mypex.
+ _2-year-old willow rods (right), 1-year old growth (middle) and young whips (left) with a roll of Mypex._
 </caption>
 </figure>
@@ Line 48: / Line 49: @@
-## What are the benefits of living willow structures?
+===== What are the benefits of living willow structures? =====
 Creating structures with willow is easy to do yourself and doesn’t cost very much; nothing in fact if you have your own source of willow. It can be extremely satisfying, but can also provide valuable educational opportunities.
@@ Line 58: / Line 59: @@
 ![Willow tipi](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-tipi.jpg)
 <caption>
- Willow tipi. (Image: Wildworks)
+ _Willow tipi. (Image: Wildworks)_
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![New fedge](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-spring.jpg)
 <caption>
- New fedge coming to life in spring.
+ _New fedge coming to life in spring._
 </caption>
 </figure>
 </WRAP>
-## What can I do?
+===== What can I do? =====
 Willow needs to be harvested in the colder months. This is because the sap is down at this time of year, and it is this sap which makes them brittle. Remember – if it’s sappy, it’s snappy!  Professional growers cut from the beginning of December through until March, so plan to create your structure in the colder months. Pick your variety with care. A firm favourite is _Salix viminalis_ but for added interest, you can select by stem colour. There are greens, browns, silvers, purples, oranges, reds and yellows to choose from. It’s pretty cheap to buy willow and the beauty is that once you have some of the right variety, it doesn’t take long to grow some of your own to harvest.
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 ![fedge](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-fedge.jpg)
 <caption>
- Newly-planted fedge and arch in winter, in an urban garden in London, to hide compost bins.
+ _Newly-planted fedge and arch in winter, in an urban garden in London, to hide compost bins._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![window in a fedge](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-window.jpg)
 <caption>
- Inserting a window into a fedge – made from 2 whips wound around each other and tied off with a third one; all ties can be done with willow rather than string or twine.
+ _Inserting a window into a fedge – made from 2 whips wound around each other and tied off with a third one; all ties can be done with willow rather than string or twine._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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 ![thin willow ‘string’](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/livingwillow-string.jpg)
 <caption>
- Tying off with bits of thin willow ‘string’.
+ _Tying off with bits of thin willow ‘string’._
 </caption>
 </figure>
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-## Further resources
+===== Forum =====
+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening).
+===== Further resources =====
-## Specialist(s)
+- [How to build your own backyard willow dome](https://inhabitat.com/diy-bio-tecture-build-your-own-backyard-living-willow-dome/)
+- [How to build a living summer shade structure](https://modernfarmer.com/2015/05/how-to-build-a-living-summer-shade-structure/)
+- [Creating living willow structures, with Michael Dodge](https://awaytogarden.com/creating-living-willow-structures-michael-dodge/)
+- [Auerworld Palace](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/auerworld-palace) - giant living willow palace built with 300 volunteers
+- [Willow Globe](https://www.shakespearelink.org.uk/) - living willow theatre
+- [15 living willow project ideas](https://offgridworld.com/15-fabulous-living-willow-project-ideas/)
+===== Related topics =====
+- [Basketmaking](bask:basketmaking)
+- [Fences](fenc:fences)
+- [Hedges](hedg:hedges)
+- [Hurdles](hrdl:hurdles)
+- [Urban / small space gardening](urbs:small-space_gardening)
+- [Willow sewage treatment](wsew:willow_sewage_treatment)
+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====