Why building a willow fence is the natural choice for sustainability-minded homeowners

5 June 2025

Willow fence panels are a fantastic option when choosing sustainable fencing. Willow fence panels from Musgrove Willows are an excellent choice for homeowners who not only want a sustainable fence, but also a product made using willow grown, harvested, and woven in the UK right here on our Somerset farm.

If you’re wondering how to make a natural fence and questioning whether a willow fence is the right option for you, read on to find out why it’s the right choice for sustainability-minded homeowners.

1. Sustainable farm practices

Our willow fence panels are handwoven onsite right here in Somerset. We use traditional hand weaving and willow farming methods that have been passed down through the generations.

Our willow is grown using sustainable farming practices which work sensitively with the local environment. Good land management helps to minimise our impact on wildlife. Some of our land is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and given over to nature.

We take great pride in our environmental credentials. Our sustainable farming practices include:

Using solar panels to generate electricity for our weaving sheds.
An extensive rainwater harvesting system used for washing our stripped willows.
Fueling our willow boiler with waste and offcut willow.
Using cattle to weed our willow beds.

2. Plastic-free and wildlife friendly

Our willow fence panels combine natural beauty and sustainability with durability, practicality and a low carbon footprint.

Absolutely no plastics or nasty chemicals go into the making of our sustainable fencing. Each fence panel is woven from high quality, one year old willow. A willow fence will create sheltered areas for flora and fauna to flourish, and for beneficial insects and wildlife to thrive.

3. A sustainable crop

Here at Musgrove Willows, we practice a carbon-neutral policy. Alongside the many benefits of willow fencing, willow is a highly sustainable crop that absorbs carbon as it grows.

4. Biodegradable

Our ribbon willow fence panels are 100% bio-degradable, and when they reach the end of their lifespan leave no harmful residue or landfill.

A photo of some woven willow fencing, in a ribbon style, made by Musgrove Willows on their farm in Somerset. Situated in a garden. — Some woven willow fencing, in a ribbon style, situated in a. garden.

5. Handcrafted and aesthetically beautiful

Each Musgrove Willows fence panel is completely unique, attesting to our high quality, handwoven approach. Alongside our ribbon fence panels, we offer framed fencing panels and framed fencing panels with trellis for a different look. Every style of willow fence panel is handcrafted on site by our skilled craftspeople, using willow grown right here on our Somerset farm.

Whether you’re complimenting a country cottage garden with the natural textures of our ribbon fence panels, or creating a softened contemporary look to compliment a modern house, we have the fencing to suit your needs.

6. Made-to-measure

Wondering how to build a natural fence that fits the exact measurements of your project?

We also offer made-to-measure fence panels in both ribbon and framed styles, so you can order the exact amount of fencing you need for your fencing project – with no excess fencing to go to waste.

7. You can make your own!

At Musgrove Willows, we regularly host willow weaving courses. Our range of garden courses includes our Willow Hurdle Weaving Workshop – where you will be shown how to make your very own sustainable willow fence panel.

Hosted on our Somerset farm, you’ll be guided through the entire project by a professional tutor. A fantastic day out which will end with you going home with a beautiful willow fence panel woven by your own hand.

Hurdle weaving is one of the endangered crafts listed on the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts. This list ranks traditional crafts by the likelihood they will survive to the next generation. Heritage Crafts hopes that shining a light on the risk we face of losing many traditional crafts will encourage more people to learn about them, and safeguard this knowledge for future generations.

For more advice, we also have a number of other handy fencing blogs:

If you have any questions about our courses, our willow fencing, or any of our other products, please get in touch with the Musgrove team – we’d love to hear from you.