Salix Purpurea (Dicky Meadows) is named after Richard Meadows. He worked for the Earl of Lathorn and found cuttings amongst garden plants that had arrived from the continent.  It has become one of the most popular varieties of willow because it is fine and easy to use in basketwork.

It is bright green when harvested and dries to a brownish colour. We sometimes let it dry in the sun as this turns the colour of the rods to a golden, pinkish green.

In our willow beds, Dicky meadows produces fine/medium fine rods in a range of lengths from 2 feet to 7 feet.

It is one of my favourites, so I have included it in Gill’s Basketry Selection.