Pollarding
An example of a Willow which literally broke in half two winters ago. If it had been pollarded or coppiced it might well have lived a much longer and healthier life.
Pollarding is a woodland management method of encouraging lateral branches by cutting off a tree stem or minor branches two or three metres above ground level.
We are planning to pollard some of our Willow as the wet ground in Dormouse Wood causes them to grow too fast and then fall or even break in half because the internal fibres are weak.
Pollarding will help us keep our Willows healthy.
If you have seen or read about the problems we have with trees around the pond collapsing and falling into it, you will not be surprised to learn that most of these trees are Willows.