A community fencing project
Peace Oak is a community orchard in the heart of Eynsham, centered around an oak tree which was planted in 1919 to commemorate the end of WWI. We have a willow growing allotment here, and our project was creating a fence around a newly formed wildlife pond. In order to avoid the typical safety fencing of post and metal wire, the construction here is coppiced hazel and foraged willow which was being pollarded from local crack willows and would otherwise have been discarded. A lovely gang of volunteers helped us drive in the hazel stakes and weave the willow between to make this organic curved fence.
Hazel stakes form the perimeter
The foraged willow weavers
We start with the thickest weavers at the base
Weaving a fence is not unlike a giant basket
Hazel and crack willow fencing project
The wildlife pond will be surrounded by wildflowers and plants come spring
Wildlife ponds are a crucial habitat and incredibly important natural resource
