Planting the Future: Creating Living Willow Sculptures with the Community

Waiting for the Right Weather

Outdoor projects often depend on the weather, and sometimes patience is required. After a few delays, the team from #Abrii were finally able to install the squirrel and butterfly frames at our latest community site.

With the structures now in place, we were ready for the next stage of the project.

Community Planting Day

Over the weekend, I spent the day working alongside Jill from #TeamWilder at HampshireWildlifeTrust, leading a planting session with local residents in Southampton.

Together we planted living willow rods around the frames. As the willow grows, the stems will weave together and form two beautiful natural structures.

Why Living Willow?

Living willow is an amazing natural material. Once planted, the willow continues to grow and strengthen the structure, creating a living sculpture that changes with the seasons.

Another advantage is that the structures can be maintained and reshaped in future years, helping them remain healthy and visually striking.

A Project That Will Grow Over Time

At the moment the willow is just starting to come out of its winter dormancy, with small buds beginning to appear. It doesn’t look particularly dramatic yet, but that’s the beauty of living willow.

Over the coming months the growth will transform these simple frames into vibrant green sculptures.

Looking Ahead

I’m really looking forward to revisiting the site later in the year to see the willow in full leaf and the structures taking shape.

Projects like this show what can be achieved when organisations, conservation groups, and local communities work together to create something lasting for both people and wildlife.