20/08/2026
Willow and Poplar Nursery.
Over the last 5 winters we have planted 2500 poplars/willows on the farm.
1500 of them subsidised by NRC for erosion control, and 1000 willows unsubsidised for grazing.
This year we decided to start our own nursery.
We have planted 200 poles/wands, 12 varieties of willow and 15 varieties of poplars. I sourced 8 varieties from NRC, the others came from the King Country, Hawkes Bay or Nelson, who should have a similar climate and/or clay based hillsides.
They are planted in an alluvial river flat, and if they appear to suit our climate, I will, next year, trial them up the clay hillside above them.
Plants are named with ear tags!