Willow Spiling Bank Stabilisation

Willow spiling is a traditional form of riverbank stabilisation or revetment. Carried out during winter or early spring, live willow rods are woven around upright thick willow rods, supported with tanalised posts, driven into the stream bank where erosion and collapse is occurring. In spring, these living willow rods send out shoots and roots into the bank holding the soil firm, thus solving the problem.

Willow spiling is best built at no more than 1 metre high, if the bank in question is higher, then one or more stepped tiers are used to overcome this problem, each tier is backfilled with top soil.

This method is a soft form of river engineering, requiring minimal heavy equipment and so causing least disturbance to the river environment. A rough-finished surface to the wall of spiling is preferable. Such a surface slows the river flow near the bank allowing the slow moving water to deposit the silt and mud it carries, thus adding to the protection of the riverbank. Overtime, the increased deposits and the spreading willow roots stabilise the bank and create a naturalised wildlife habitat.

Willow Spiling Bank Stabilisation - Examples