Creating living sculpture

Jan 18 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THOUSANDS of willow cuttings are being planted in Calderdale parks this month.

They are part of a plan to create park features and sculptures out of the living trees.

The cuttings take about a year or more to grow.

After that they can be used to create structures and shapes, such as igloos, mazes, obelisks, sun shelters and tree arbours.

They can also be used for willow-weaving events.

About 2,000 cuttings are being planted across Calderdale.

Living willow can also be used for environmentally-sustainable health and safety improvements, such as preventing access to possible hazardous areas such as water.

A Calderdale spokes-woman said: “Using living willow is an attractive, fun and sustainable way of improving parks and helping the environment.

“It also brings more people into Calderdale’s green spaces and enables them to experience nature hands-on through events such as willow weaving.”