Treacodactyl
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Sallow ( goat / pussy willow )I have a few acres of scrubby woodland which has a fair bit of sallow in it. There's what I regard as more valuable trees mixed in; mainly hazel but some oak, ash and rowan. So, I plan to cut out a fair bit of the sallow but before I do I want to ensure nothing is dependant on it or I'm not missing a use. I will leave some, many of the stumps will regrow and there's plenty in the area so I doubt there's a problem but thought worth checking.
I'm pleasantly surprised to see it has quite a few uses and can be used as a substitute for ash and hazel, although not as good as either. I also know bees love the flowers and various animals browse the leaves.
Anyone know of good reasons to keep it? Are there any rare animals dependant on it I need to be aware of?
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mochyn
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I wouldn't worry. Something like 90% of the ones you cut down will think they're being coppiced a regrow even stronger than before...
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Treacodactyl
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Yes they'll regrow at up to 2 inches a day apparently, but it would be a while before they're mature and flowering for example, especially with deer eating them.
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vickersdc
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How about pollarding them to avoid the deer eating them all up..?
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Treacodactyl
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I plan to cut back the sallow to allow other trees to grow, such as hazel, so I don't mind deer browsing it (especially if it keeps them away from the hazel, there's another question what do deer prefer?).
Having said that I'll bear in mind the pollarding though, as some fresh young shoots would be good for baskets etc.
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mochyn
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You couls have a mixed/rotation approach: some coppiced, come pollarded or cut some this year, some next year, others the year after type of thing so there are always some at each stage of growth (if that makes sense).
Bet the deer by you don't get many headaches! Although my sow loves hazel leaves.
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