Pollarding the willow grove

In a damp area that we call the willow grove, which contains many ferns, mosses and liverworts, there is a fairly large group of willows, mostly  'sallow', surrounded by weedy birch.  The willow had grown extremely tall and spindly as they were being crowded out by the birch,  and some had fallen over.  Much of the birch was removed , which let in a lot more light. Coppicing,  i.e. cutting them right down to the ground,  would strengthen the willow and encourage vigorous new growth . Unfortunately this wasn't an option,  as our excessive deer population would have soon made short shrift of  juicy new willow shoots.

Instead it was decided that pollarding would be the best treatment. By cutting them off at head height, rather than at ground level,  new growth would be out of reach of  browsing deer.  Sarah had  experimented successfully with a few willows in another part of the wood, so some more were pollarded  in the willow grove. This Spring some encouraging results may be seen. The pollarded willows have now begun to put out strong new growth.  This provides a very welcome element to the woodland structure. But there is still much to do.

 Some of the remaining willows are still too tall and remain vulnerable to keeling over and being devoured by the deer.

Recently pollarded willow (foreground),willow pollarded last year with regrowth (background)

Willows in need of pollarding

These remaining uncut willows have been drawn up by the dense birch which grew around them. Now the birch has been removed they will have the light they need when they are pollarded.