Wanted: Hazel or willow rods for hurdle making

[mikeakc]

Morning All,
At Home, we have decided to make a 20 yard windbreak for a veggie bed area out of Willow or Hazel hurdle fencing. Buying ready-made hurdles is expensive and it looks like a fun and satisfying project to make our own. We don’t have the time or contacts to coppice our the material unfortunately. Does anyone know where we can get, a big bulk delivery of Willow or Hazel rods down to Cornwall please?
Many thanks in advance,
Mike.

 

[mikeakc]

Nobody? Or is the tumbleweed just a result of putting it in the classified instead of a normal discussion thread?!

 

[VSS]

Presumably you're thinking of wattle hurdles, not cleft?
Definitely an interesting project!
Hopefully someone local to you has got some willow that needs cutting back. It wouldn't be economical to transport it any significant distance.
While you're at it, why not plant some willow for future use? I put in 90 willow whips, just cuttings from a roadside treestump that had sprouted numerous rods, and every one grew. After a few years I coppiced them, and each one put up around a dozen new stems. So a lot of poles. They're about 20ft tall now, so I'll cut the whole lot down again this winter.

 

[mikeakc]

Yes, I have just bought five scarlet willow cuttings, so hopefully they will take and set us up for future projects! Not sure that I will get much material from just five, but I could always sneak in a couple more in future if need be! Cheers

 

[countrryboy]

Try googling some hedgelaying suppliers, or coppicing groups/contractors
I have seen willow and hazel stakes ( about5ft long and 1-2" thick) and binders ( 10-15ft long by <1" dia) advertised.
Use them for various hedge laying styles

There is pages on faceache for them

 

[Will the chippy]

Ring someone who does hedge laying. They might have a contact, or be able to sell you some.

 

[countrryboy]

I will add possibly some hedge laying styles might be a bit bent crooked for wot ur after.
U might have to ask for a higher grade.

U could also use tree stakes if ur driving into the ground and want it permanent in that place.

Also when ur willow are properly established say 1 or 2 years after planting, cut the stem off 4-12" above ground so they coppice and u will get multiple stems u could then lay in the future, u could also plant the cutting

 

[VSS]

Ring someone who does hedge laying. They might have a contact, or be able to sell you some.

Try contacting @westcountry_hedgelayer on Instagram.