Natural materials for erosion control

JPR Environmental offers a number of willow products for use in water's edge erosion prevention. We can either supply or supply and install where required. Please contact us for more information.

Willow is a very adaptable tree and readily grows from 30 cm cuttings to form a dense root mat that binds crumbling banks together. Willow stakes and bundles can also be used for willow spiling to provide erosion control.

Willow is typically harvested between November and April, with planting during this dormant phase producing the best results.

Willow Cuttings

Planting willow cuttings is perhaps the simplest and quickest method of strengthening a bankside to prevent soil erosion by water. The willow grows to form a dense root mat and top growth to bind the affected bank. Top growth can be retained over a number of years to create a new wildlife habitat or trimmed annually. It is important to clear the site to be planted of other vegetation to avoid competition for light in the vital first few months after planting.

JPR Environmental supplies willow cuttings grown at our coppice in Gloucestershire.

Willow Bundles

We supply bundles of live willow rods for willow spiling - creating the weave between willow stakes. The bundles usually consist of either Osier (Salix viminalis) or Grey Sallow (Salix cinerea) and one bundle provides enough material for approximately one square metre of weave.

Willow Stakes

We supply willow stakes for spiling in two sizes, either 80-100mm or 50-80mm in diameter. Stakes can be of varying lengths and can be cut to order. We recommend that you allow an additional 1.2m over the height of the required wall so that 1m can be driven into the bankside and 20cm overlaps the top for trimming. Stakes are usually of Crack Willow (Salix fragilis). We suggest using 1 stake per 0.5m to create an effective and stable wall.

If you would like to purchase willow cuttings, please order from our online shop on our willow website. If you would like to order willow stakes or willow bundles for willow spiling to prevent water erosion please contact us.