Chiswick Eyot, Hounslow

Old osier bed on Chiswick Eyot

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If you look at any 19th century OS map of one of the wetter parts of southern England you will find the words 'osier beds'. This was once a widespread land-use, but I confess this is the only recognisable survival I've ever seen. Osiers were small willows grown in wet situations, managed so that their shoots could be cut once a year for basket making. In earlier centuries market gardening was important in this area, produce being sent to London in locally made baskets. These days the Eyot is a nature reserve, and an effort is being made to maintain the osier 'holt' in something like its former condition.

Uploaded to Geograph by Stefan Czapski on 13 January 2011

Creative Commons License Photo © Stefan Czapski, 13 January 2011. Licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons licence

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