1-1.5m high willow spiling supporting either side of a rainwater gully on a new housing development in Eastington, Glos.

To extend a drainage ditch at the edge of a housing development and to receive rainwater run off from the hard surfaced areas on site the client had built a drainage ditch 30 metres long and an average of a metre deep. The client was looking for a more sustainable method of supporting the sides of the ditch and asked JPR Environmental about the possibility of using willow spiling.

JPR Environmental liaised with the client in the construction of the ditch so that it could accept willow spiling. Once created we installed the spiling along the length of the channel to an average height of 1 metre. We oversaw the backfilling of the spiling and have a contract to undertake annual maintenance for 2 years after installation.
A site visit undertaken in May showed that the willow was growing well and had taken along the whole length installed.