Willow

[Jocky]

My family have used Wrights for probably the last 45 years. Absolutely no complaints with their service. Re. the growth rates of willow the fastest we've grown a bat willow to the optimum 5 foot circumference (roughly 20 inch diameter) is 16 years. I've used the tops for a couple of years now as firewood to sell, this year mixed with conifer (thanks Frosty!!) and am selling this at £80 per cube. Next year's is to be mixed with sweet chestnut. Whilst it wont last as long as a hardwood mix it certainly burns hot, but i am able to supply it cheaper than the hardwood as i'm not paying for the cord!

I do produce kindling now as well, but i've yet to try any volume of willow in the kindlett, I find it a very stringy timber to split, but having said that i will be trying some soon.

 

This year i was paid £270 per trunk, with Wrights supplying new sets FOC on the understanding i will continue to do business with them. We harvest around 30 trees each year from a continuous stock of around 600 trees.

 

£270 sounds good. Is that an average price or good?

[Chris Gagen]

£270 sounds good. Is that an average price or good?

 

i'd say a good price. it's the same they paid for last years trees. for the amount of work involved i'm quite happy with it.

[Stereo]

Is the land wet / boggy? I'm looking for something to plant on a slope which is fairly dry. Tempted by Willow just to see what happens.

[face cord]

Some more about SCR willow trials

 

Willow for Wales Helyg i Gymru

 

Alot of spraying going on surely there must be better ways to control weeds such as mulching

[Jocky]

Is the land wet / boggy? I'm looking for something to plant on a slope which is fairly dry. Tempted by Willow just to see what happens.

 

was that aimed at me? if so That land that I had planned is free draining. but there is also some wet boggy ground that would suit bat willow. My only problem now is ground preparation. we have all the machinery to plant and maintain (subsoiler and topper) but no way of getting rid of weeds?

[face cord]

Black membrane covered in woodchip?

[Chris Gagen]

certainly for willow sets there is little need for weed control, i have two plantations that are not grazed by my cattle and i've not done anything with them at all. just rabbit guards, although very occasionally i'll find one that has been savaged by deer, but these losses are minimal

[Jocky]

certainly for willow sets there is little need for weed control, i have two plantations that are not grazed by my cattle and i've not done anything with them at all. just rabbit guards, although very occasionally i'll find one that has been savaged by deer, but these losses are minimal

 

ok cheers for that so you reckon just subsoil and then stick them in and mow between the rows a couple of times a year? would this be ok with 1ft sets?

[Chris Gagen]

ok cheers for that so you reckon just subsoil and then stick them in and mow between the rows a couple of times a year? would this be ok with 1ft sets?

 

hmmm, i may have caused some confusion here... the sets i'm referring to are approx 10-12ft in height and between 30 and 60mm diameter.

they're planted at 9-11 yard spacings and allowed to mature to 60 inch circumference for cricket bats.

[Jocky]

hmmm, i may have caused some confusion here... the sets i'm referring to are approx 10-12ft in height and between 30 and 60mm diameter.

they're planted at 9-11 yard spacings and allowed to mature to 60 inch circumference for cricket bats.

 

sorry i thought you were on abour SRC.