[bluelou]

Would love to use hazel and willow in the garden as supports but not sure where to get some. My local garden centres do not sell it. Any ideas?

[Rangerkris]

Look up AMC  on here. Willow might shoot tho as its a bit like that.

[bluelou]

AMC??? Sorry new to this.

[Swing Swang]

Willow 'takes' really easily so careful about sticking it into the ground (unless that's what you want).

Search for managed woodlands in your area and you should be able to find someone who coppices hazel.

www.coppice-products.co.uk might be a good place to start

SS

[BostonInbred]

Willow 'takes' really easily so careful about sticking it into the ground (unless that's what you want).

This is the understatement of the century. If you cut a willow, it will trigger it into throwing out buds and roots. Its almost impossible to stop willow rooting and growing, i have three willow trees in the garden, each one was grown from a twig just broken off and stuck in the ground, nothing else.

[pairofacres]

Where are you located? I've got a mate in Cambridgeshire who could probably help, but it's not the sort of thing which can really be sent by post!

[slowcompost]

If you get willow rooted in the garden it is difficult to get rid of and will rob the soil of all goodness.

[penance]

Stop panicing over twigs sprouting roots.
Use some common sense, cut willow/haxel and leave to season in a dry place for a few months. It will not root then.

[solway cropper]

I'm lucky in knowing a farmer with a lot of land bordering a Westmorland river. There's a huge amount of hazel growing there and it gives me all the bean poles I could ever want, plus a few walking sticks. You could always be naughty and have a drive in the country with a pruning saw.

[Rangerkris]

AMC??? Sorry new to this.

Its a user name, Penance is right you can leave it a while to dry out if using willow.

[savbo]

contact your local ranger service bluellou - we always used to point people the where they could harvest a few withies