Willows can stabilise fragile soils and reduce erosion on slopes and near watercourses – important considerations as extreme weather events become more common with climate change.
What we know about willow for bioengineering
Have fibrous root systems that bind the soil together.
Enhances sediment retention, reduces erosion in adverse weather.
Reduces need for dredging of rivers.
Well-developed mechanisms to recycle mineral nutrients preventing water pollution from run off.
Much cheaper than hard engineering methods.
Invertebrate fauna and fungi add to the ecological value of a site.
What we're exploring next
Potential to harvest biomass and offset the cost of upkeep.
How to efficiently harvest on slopes and near highways.
