Willow Wednesday

Today, down by the Great Water at Leeds Castle I discovered a willow copse. Natalie, one of the gardeners, told me the copse grew from seeds embedded in silt that was removed from the lake around four years ago. 

This afternoon the Gardening team were busy removing suitable branches and whips to create the walls of a Willow Maze next to the toddlers’ playground.  

The gardeners told me that willow is one of the few plants that grow roots from a stem making it easy to remove the branches and whips and replant them. It will take around one thousand whips to create the Willow Maze which will be a bicursal circular maze design featuring two unicursal paths twined together with four bastions and six rings of willow leading to the centre (subject to patent). 

Archways of willow will create visual interest and excitement for the maze go-ers while different varieties of willow including a golden willow will provide an eye catching variety of colour and texture. 

The maze will be built over the coming weeks and is due to open later in the year. I am sure the Willow Maze will prove popular with visitors of all ages. I will most definitely be returning to check on its progress!