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Hey all,

A large willow has fallen into my field which is currently being prepared to plant an orchard. The main core was very rotten and with the wet spring leading to the very hot summer it has finally taking a bow. The entire tree is about 18 metres in length, with a trunk of around a metre across.

Just wondering what use I can get out of it's differing sections?

Currently going to use the main branches, twigs etc for chippings - these will be useful for mulching the apple trees in the future.

The rest of it is up for suggestions, cheers!

Well obvious answer for the big trunk is firewood, once dried it burns really well. You could use some of the straight twigs or withy looking bits to propagate more willow, I believe that orchards used to have hedges of willow as windbreaks?

Faggots

Cricket bats are made of willow aren't they

Good idea for making a hedge, there is areas where it's become gappy and the wind whistles through.

Thanks for your suggestions.

I heard that the moisture content of willow wood, unless well seasoned can make a smoky fuel, though will burn quite well