Wordless Wednesday: Willow Fencing

Tags

countryside craft, Drew Charlton, in-situ fencing, willow fencing, willow weaving, wordless wednesday, www.norfolkbaskets.co.uk

Evening light on fencing

Plaited willow top

 

52 Week Photo Challenge: Tension

Tags

52 Week Photo Challenge, Drew Charlton, Tension, willow fencing, willow hurdles, willow weaving, www.norfolkbaskets.co.uk

Willow weaving

This week the photo challenge set by Sandra at https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/photo-challenge  is ‘Tension‘

Craftsman Drew Charlton is halfway through the creation of a willow fence for me. Drew harvests his willow from Norfolk and uses it to create, amongst other things, beautiful fences.

fence detail

The process is to first set two timber round posts into concrete at either end of the fence to be created.  Between these two posts, steel posts one meter apart are hammered into the ground then between the steel a further four willow posts are hammered in.

Fence in formation showing posts

Once the posts are all in place the weaving can begin.

willow whips ready for weaving

The whips of willow are then woven in and out between the posts, and with a rubber mallet firmly tapped down.  The tension of the weave around the posts is I guess what gives the fence its strength.

The process of creating the fence is knee numbing and back breaking, but to my eye the beauty of fence is undeniable.  I am delighted with the results so far and my deliberating about whether to chose a willow fence as opposed to anything else, the stress and tension that caused has evaporated.