Hazel poles

[4pygmies]

This is just a silly little thing but I am SOOO chuffed about it! I planted 3 Hazels about 14 years ago and I had to lop one back quite hard this afternoon as it is shading the kids climbing frame too much. I took off a rather large pile of 12ft lengths and I think I may actually be able to trim them up and use them as plant supports!
Coo! My very first harvest of the fabled Hazel poles......what am I going to grow up them?
OO! I could wait until Spring and try and use some willow withies to make a tripod couldn't I? Oo, I've had a vision........how hard are they to build? Anybody ever had a go?

[sweetleaf]

Ive seen it done on TV, they put the poles into the ground to start with. Id really love to have a go at that !

[4pygmies]

Me too. I tried to find a basket weaving class locally but the nearest one was miles away... I have a gorgeous book about making baskets from hedgerows and garden trimmings. She makes it look really easy.........I made a tripod last year with middlest out of willow trimmings, it didn't look too bad but I don't know whether I would actually try and grow things up it. I haven't seen it this year - wonder where it went.....

[The witch]

They have done some amazing things with Hazel (or perhaps it was willow ) at the Eden Project.

[emseypop]

Always knew you were a basket-case 4P! (i'm just jelous!)

[4pygmies]