Willow
Warning!
Be particularly careful not to plant willows near water infrastructure including pipes, cisterns, septic systems, or sewage systems, as the roots have a habit of seeking out water and destroying human utilities.
Benefits of Willow
Agriculture
Paludiculture
Wildlife-Friendly Fencing
Biodiversity
Host Plant
Willows are considered the second best host plant for moths and butterflies after oak trees.
Crafts & Construction
"Willows were used for making dye, furniture, mats, baskets, drums, stirrups, tipi pegs and pins, fox and fish traps, hunting lodge poles, and meat-drying racks (Kindscher 1992). Willows were and still are used for baskets throughout their range. The Paiute, Ute, Shoshone, Hopi, Havasupai, Mandan, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, and others use Salix lucida for basket weaving..." - USDA Plant Library
Basket Making
Environmental Cleanup
CO2
PFAS Cleanup
Willow was not found to have a significant impact on PFAS levels during a 14 day period.
Erosion Control
Spiling
"Spiling is a traditional technique used in temperate regions of the world for the prevention of erosion to river and stream banks.
Willow spiling is currently used in the United Kingdom; live willow rods are woven between live willow uprights and the area behind is filled with soil for the willow to root into.[1]
Kipling's poem The Land mentions it: "They spiled along the water-course with trunks of willow-trees, And planks of elms behind 'em and immortal oaken knees."[2]
The species of willow used are riparian (associated with rivers); the posts, 10 centimetres (4 in) in diameter, are usually Salix alba or S. fragilis, and S. viminalis varieties are used for the interwoven rods. The living willow posts are driven into the bank, to a depth of 30 centimetres (1 ft) or more, at 60-centimetre (2 ft) intervals and the thinner rods are woven in between, the rods are best woven at an angle slightly above horizontal to ensure good survival rates. A row of stones, gabions or wooden planks held by posts can be added to the bottom of each "spile" to prevent undercutting when the willow is establishing itself. All works should be done during the dormant period, winter in temperate zones. A layer of seeded coir matting can be pegged onto the soil on top of the spiles to prevent the soil being washed out during flood events. This method is an example of soft engineering, techniques which tend to be less expensive and more sustainable than others. [3]" - Wikipedia: Spiling
Medicine
Willow has long been used for pain relief.
Maps
International
Butterfly Conservation: Wild Spaces: Put Your Wild Space on the Map "Our interactive map shows the number and types of Wild Space near you. When you sign up in the UK, your Wild Space will also appear on the map so you can show everyone that you're taking action and encourage others to get involved too."
Europe
UK
Butterfly Conservation: Wild Spaces: Put Your Wild Space on the Map "Our interactive map shows the number and types of Wild Space near you. When you sign up in the UK, your Wild Space will also appear on the map so you can show everyone that you're taking action and encourage others to get involved too."
Grants
You may find grants and other useful program on our Affordable Trees page.
Europe
UK
National award schemes There are a number of key organisations offering grants and advice to community based projects e.g.
Big Lottery Fund "Groups can apply to us for funding under £20,000, or over £20,001, depending on what they want to do."
Heritage Fund "We fund projects of all sizes that connect people and communities to the UK’s heritage."