How Are Woven Wood Hurdles Made?
Materials
At Woven Wood, we source only the finest hazel and willow materials to ensure that our hurdles are both strong and durable. Our craftsmen pay close attention to the aesthetic quality of the materials, striving to create a uniform look across all rods and sails while still allowing for the unique variations found within natural materials.
Each of our handcrafted hurdles is a beautiful and one-of-a-kind addition to your garden. The subtle differences in colour, size, and shape of each rod add to the organic and natural feel of your outdoor space.
Preparation
To prepare the materials for weaving, we soak the willow and hazel rods in water to make them pliable and avoid damage during construction. Our skilled craftsmen work tirelessly to create each hurdle, ensuring that every product meets our high standards of quality.
Before shipping, every hurdle undergoes a rigorous inspection process to ensure that only the best and most beautiful products are delivered to our customers. Choose Woven Wood for the highest quality and most beautiful handcrafted hazel and willow hurdles for your garden.
Making a Hurdle
The foundation of any hurdle is the mouldboard, which consists of a sturdy board with drilled holes. The sails of the hurdle, made of thick and straight branches, are placed in the holes and become the framework. Next, the hurdle maker weaves a rod in and out of the sails, securing the structure by wrapping a longer rod around the first and last sails at intervals up the hurdle.
For hazel hurdles, the rod is twisted to make the wood stronger and more fibrous. This process strengthens the wood without causing it to snap or break. Willow hurdles, on the other hand, do not require twisting due to the natural springiness of the wood.
Once the weaving is complete, a final wrap secures the hurdle and any protruding rods are trimmed. After inspection, the hurdle is lifted from the mould board, ready to be installed. With aesthetically exceptional materials, each hurdle is a unique and beautiful addition to your garden, made with the utmost care and skill by Woven Wood's expert craftsmen.
The Final Stage
Only the finest hazel and willow are used to create hurdles that are strong, durable, and visually stunning. Each hurdle is meticulously crafted and inspected for quality, ensuring that only the best products are shipped to customers.
Origins of Hurdle Making
Hazel and willow hurdles have a rich history dating back thousands of years in Europe, with archaeological evidence showing their use as portable pens and fences for livestock. Today, these eco-friendly hurdles are popular for creating a natural and rustic look in gardens. The longevity of these hurdles is due not only to their durable materials but also to the skilled craftsmanship that goes into making them.