Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose a locally produced fence, and not a hurdle made in and shipped from hundreds or thousands of miles away?
All the fences are made from English willow, which is in every case guaranteed to be from a sustainably managed source. Unlike fences from countries miles away which are not only usually made from non-sustainably farmed willow, but also add to over all carbon emissions via long distance travel.
But does hand weaving cost a lot more?
The answer is it’s a bit more expensive, but you get a far better and more durable product as a result of a marginal extra cost. As ever the question comes down to whether one wants to get a project right, or merely to do it...
How long does a withy fence last?
It depends on how you treat it! If you just leave it to go its own way, then the fence will last around 3-5 years or so. If it is treated with boiled linseed, it will last far longer. Alternatively is you use living willow, with a little bit of patience the fence can become a living willow hedge! and will last indefinitely.
How long does it take to weave ?
It depends of course on the size of the commission. However the process of weaving itself is quite quick. All other things being equal (ground not too hard or wind too strong), then it is possible to build 4ft by 18ft of fence in a day.
Why have a fence hand woven, and not merely a hurdle fence?
Firstly and most importantly the fence is a lot stronger. Hurdles have a habit of blowing over in the wind, whilst in a hand woven fence every withy helps to support the whole.
Secondly each fence is individually designed to fit your own garden. They can be as long or as short, or as tall, as you like or even made to swerve around existing shrubs or trees.
Do these fences really have so little impact on the wider environment?
All the withies used are cut from our own willow beds by hand; while all the fences and even the gates are built using traditional methods and without the aid of power tools. So the only additional carbon costs come from transport, and we always use ’bio-fuels’ when we can. This is about as green as fencing gets!
