Living Willow Arch

Looks lovely now but should be stunning when in leaf .

Oh you and hubby will be able to hide and snuggle up in here.

Aw you old romantic , Toto ..perhaps Dawn building a living shed for you ?

I hope it does work and then we'll divert one of the mowed paths under here.
Toto: We've actually got a private, sunny area already for snuggling up, lol.
Ray: It could double up as a shed though ;-)

Mmmm, good idea Dawn.

I hope it works Louise, Our very nice, next door but 1 neighbour said she had one done at her school where she was headteacher, so we thought it was a good idea.

cant wait to see it dawn, i love these, so flexable isnt it willow, nice one :o)

Yes, its very bendy Sandra, lol.

It looks lovely Dawn can imagine you Bonnie John and Toto all snuggled up in that he he, Toto good job Bonnie is a girl he he ha ha

Yep...that's going to be a great feature. Lovely.

Love this sort of idea Dawn..thank you! Will be looking forward to your pic's when it leafs out!..

Thanks everyone, I'll post a pic when its in leaf - oh dear, that sounds a long way away.

Much to enjoy from now until then, Dawn....so many plans to make for what to have around it in the spring when the ground and the saplings have slept and built up sugars and energy for renewal, I can see lovely bluebells and daffodils and tulips..OH!...you can put lights on it for the holidays..! :o) ~Cat

Some good ideas there Cat, thank you. I set blue bells and snowdrops last winter but not in this area, must put it on the list :-)

LOL..good..I hope to see more photo's of what you are doing around it ...lol..just don't get too muddy and wet in your wellies....lol....now who would want to see that..?

No-one Cat, ha ha. That's the only footwear I seem to wear just lately though.

TT would love to see it..lol..especially by your willow arch..and me too! :o)

Brilliant idea Dawn......it will look lovely next year when in leaf........

Thanks Maureen :-)))

O Dawn this is Fantastic :)

Glad you like Jacque :-)

well done Dawn .brill..looking forward to spring

Me too Deida and thank you

Dawn thats going to be fantastic , can't wait to see it next year , :o)

I hope so Amy :-)

What a good idea, look forward to seeing it next year Dawn.

I hope its works out OK Dotty.

looks great to me Dawn.....mine all need sorting after the recent winds......one is like the leaning tower....lol

Have you done anything with your willows Sandra - we usually just coppice ours.

I was looking at them yesterday (whilst cutting loads to make wreath frames for christmas) . i am going to have to start again with the oldest one as the wind has taken it....but it will soon recover. i will enjoy using all the willow practicing my weaving. what do u do with all your chopped bits?

Its a horrible job isnt it Sandra. Sorry to say, we dont do anything with them, we made a willow hurdle last year for a bit of fun. they usually end up getting burnt. I'm not as creative as you :-(

a lot of mine end up on the fire too....the weaving thing is fun though...ive made a couple of baskets and im pleased withh them but they wouldnt win any prizes...but i have been getting better making the wreath bases..practice makes....

Hi Sandra, its all time and practise isnt it. I looked on a website that says its easier to manipulate the willows if they have been soaked, that's OK for me, I can just lay them in our brook, lol. One day, one day, when I get chance I'll do something with them. Quite fancy obelisks, have you tried those Sandra? BTW been meaning to go to your pic ...... just like to say, you did a marvellous job digging that trench - its the kind of thing we do here, brilliant.

thank you Dawn, its been lovely watching the water flow away...
i have only used fresh willow..but i seem to think you let it dry and then rewet it to use it or it rots...the brook would be great to re-wet it....an onlisk is easy..im sure u can find a demo video on utube....one warning with willow oblisk..it tends to sprout and grow...lol

I can imagine the feeling Sandra, we are always digging trenches and messing with water levels, so know exactly what your saying.
I'll have a look on YouTube for obelisks made of willow - good idea, thank you.
I can just imagine them sprouting though - like when I've used them as stick for the beans to climb.

Dawn - this looks great - did you plant the willow yourself? I want a smaller version as an arch separating two parts of the garden.

Hello Busy: Yes we set the willow trees ourselves about 8 years ago - just little whips then. We set them in a block and each year they grow about 10 feet tall and them we cut them down to the base but this year I talked husband into having a go at a arch - we just bent them over so they met and tied them together. More of an experiment really but I'll be interested to see how they look when in leaf

Well it looks good to me - thanks so much for your help and advice.

You're welcome Busy - I'll post a picture later in the year :-)

Great idea I like it very natural