Willow and Hazel Craft from the garden

I’m becoming interested in creating craft from materials grown and found in my garden. Not only is it hugely satisfying, it adds another dimension to the garden and costs next to nothing.

Willow hanging heartThis willow heart I made hangs from a cupboard door

Hazel gateA homemade gate from garden hazel, a new entrance to my kitchen garden.

Coppicing (cutting back a tree to ground level periodically to stimulate growth) is a great way to keep certain garden trees to a manageable size, whilst also providing you with a crop of crafting material from your garden.  I’ve just been coppicing my Hazel and Willow, it needs to be cut in winter when the tree is dormant, before it bursts into leaf. I have six Hazel trees, the idea is that I coppice one or two a year, I then leave them to grow for 4-5 years, before coppicing again.

Hazel before coppicingThe hazel before coppicing

Coppiced Hazel stumpsThe coppiced stumps of hazel

1 year old hazelHazel with one years growth after coppicing

2 year old hazelHazel with two years growth after coppicing

The Willow, a speedier crop than Hazel, is coppiced one a year. I have three willow trees, all different varieties providing me with yellow, green and nearly black willow whips. This year I thought I’d increase my willow crop, planting a couple of the coppiced willow whips into the ground. It couldn’t be simpler, you just push the end into damp ground and it will root very quickly. This should be kept in mind, don’t use the willow whips as stakes in the ground for projects unless you want a tree there!

Willow ready to be cutThe Willow before coppicing

Coppiced Willow trunkThe willow after coppicing

New willow plantedThe willow whip I’ve just planted. Next winter I’ll cut back the branches and new growth, creating a stump for the whips to grow from.

I have used my willow and hazel in various projects this year. The most important has been creating an Alice (my naughty puppy) defence system. Alice’s holes are becoming legendary, and are high up on the husband’s moan list when mowing the lawn, closely followed by all the children’s toys, vehicles and detritus that is liberally scattered around the garden! The holes have become more of a pressing issue for myself in the Kitchen garden. Sowing seed in the freshly prepared beds is a disastrous waste of time! So, I’ve barricaded myself in with a hazel fence and a few gates, which I secure shut with woven willow hoops. The result, I’m gardening in constructive peace. The husband’s still moaning, so all’s back to a comfortable equilibrium in our household.

Hazel fencingThe hazel fencing, keeping Alice here, out of the Kitchen garden!

Rustic hazel garden gateA very simple rustic gate from the hazel, with a woven willow hoop to fasten.

Hazel gateI’m really pleased with this hazel gate I made, a lovely entrance to the kitchen garden.

The hazel stakes create great structures for plants to clamber up.

Runner bean frameA hazel structure for runner beans

I have tethered the hazel stakes together with garden twine. This is not only a strong supportive structure for Runner beans to clamber up, it also gives a lovely rustic feel to the vegetable patch.

Obelisks look great in borders, they add structure and are a good support for climbers such as clematis or sweet peas. They’re easy to make from hazel stakes with willow woven around them. Don’t worry if the willow weaving looks a bit messy, once finished it all comes together with a homemade natural charm. You’d never be able to buy an obelisk like this in the shops!

Hazel and Willow ObeliskAn obelisk I made for the front garden of my boys school

Making an obeliskObelisks are easy to make. First of all secure 6-7 stakes in a circle in the ground.

Top of the ObeliskWeave a willow hoop and bring the stakes at the top together.

Weaving willow around the obeliskStart to weave willow around the stakes. I highly recommend this is not done with an Alice!

Completed obeliskThe completed obelisk

I have also made some willow cloches, I find them useful to pop over tender plants early in the season, giving them a little protection from a chill and wildlife that would like a nibble on their tender shoots! In the same way, I started the obelisk, you just need to secure willow hoops in the ground, this gives you a strong base to weave from.

Starting a Willow ClocheThe start of a willow cloch, place six/seven hoops in the ground, ready to weave willow around.

Willow ClocheThe finished cloche

As you’ve already seen, simple woven willow hoops are useful for many purposes in the garden and home, here are a few more I’ve made:

Willow wreathA willow hoop or wreath hanging from our fire place

Bridal wreathI decorated this willow hoop with flowers and catkins for a friends Spring wedding reception

Willow hanging ringsI’ve hung these hoops from our oak tree as  fun sculptural art from the garden. My boys seem to think they’re the equivalent of Quidditch hoops!!

Off cuts of hazel stakes make wonderful plant label sticks, they look fabulous in the kitchen garden, can be clearly seen and are not so easily taken and distributed around the garden by children and dogs, compared to the little white plastic labels!

Plant labelsPlant label stakes

Willow hearts are simple to make with two whips of willow bent over, twisted and woven to secure at the bottom. I hung the large heart on our front door for Valentine’s day, it’s now moved to an oak pillar in our dining room.

Willow heartMy willow heart on the front door for Valentines day

Trees in the garden are a lovely feature, great for wildlife and even better if you can harvest a crop from them for creating craft from the garden!

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