An industry-wide collaborative project with social responsibility and sustainability at its heart has culminated in The Willow Wand.
Every Willow Wand is a unique, hand-crafted piece of living art. Elegant and visually striking, it will become the magical centre-piece of every garden, patio and outdoor space it graces.
Expertly selected whips of living willow are lovingly transformed into a truly stunning, symmetrically twisted stem by our master weavers. Topped by an easy to maintain topiary crown, this new concept in plants is perfect for small spaces and larger gardens alike, as the height of the beautiful decorative stem remains fixed, and the top is simply trimmed to any desired shape.
With huge ‘grow your own’ appeal the plant is extremely easy to establish and maintain, with miraculous development to a full crown possible in as little as 6 weeks. Alternatively, it can be bought ready-grown with the topiary crown already trimmed.
The Willow Wand was conceived as a UK-based industry-wide collaboration. With backing from the HTA, Floramedia and others, it now showcases the range of expertise across the UK Commercial and Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (or STH) sectors, a best practice example of how plants and horticulture can positively impact on people’s lives. It delivers on several of the key strategies of the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Action Plan, demonstrating in particular sustainable practice and the positive impact that Horticulture has on Human health and Society.
“This truly is a good news story: an exciting opportunity for the whole sector, with amazing potential to deliver great returns in a sustainable and socially responsible way for all those involved,” said Simon Read, Director of The Willow Wand.
The Willow Wand is already attracting major interest across the U.K., with prestigious retail outlets such as Barton Grange Garden Centre placing repeat orders to meet customer demand.
Says Will Clark, Planteria Supervisor at their flagship Preston-based operation: “Customer response to this eye catching product really has been fantastic, and such introductions keep us right at the forefront of innovation. We are delighted with the sales, margins and outstanding quality of this truly novel line which adds value and interest to our range.
The product started with the highest profile possible, with The Willow Wand being featured in no less than 2 show gardens at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show.
Co-ordinated by the Horticultural Trades Association, the Sunflower Square garden show cased 2 different sized wands. Further, a graceful hedge of willow wands took centre stage in the ‘Health, Happiness and Healing Gardens’ area of Chelsea, at the centre of the multi-Gold Medal winner and RHS Ambassador Jekka McVicar’s show garden, ‘A Modern Apothecary’.
Since that UK launch the product has gone from strength to strength, with the business model embracing a proportion of the Wands being created by individuals attending Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) Projects.
The production techniques have been developed to help engage those with a range of additional support needs and so develop personal and work skills, as part of social and health interventions coordinated by specialized practitioners.
The trade name of the Willow Wand derives from the fact that it can be sold as an unrooted, dormant hardwood cutting, which miraculously springs into life very soon after being planted. Alternatively, it can be sold ‘in the green’, potted up and growing, as a ready-to-use garden feature. It can be planted singly as a focal point, in groups, as hedging or dotted around the garden as a connecting feature.
Designed under the concept of ‘Living Art’, whilst visually stunning, being willow it is also very easy to establish and simple to maintain. The top of the stem develops side shoots literally within weeks of planting and with regular trimming it will go on to develop a beautiful dense crown; and like any topiary subject, it can be trimmed to any desired shape.
Apart from regular watering, the only other maintenance required is to occasionally rub off the buds that emerge from the main stem.
Available in wholesale volumes, by direct mail order and from selected retail outlets.
