[shygirl]

we used plastic sheet or weed fabric, weighed down by soil or muck, making sure not to burn the new plants with fresh muck. survives the wind then.

[Hellybee]

Baz has been collecting big bale wrap.  He's rolled up the sides of the wrap to use as weed suppressant.

[arobwk]

Thanks all for the many suggestions/comments.  I'm not completely dissuaded from using wire pegs, but I shall try other means first.  I have a volunteer (my "Ex" who helped me do the planting) who is up for protecting our efforts:  she will be experimenting with the newspaper option and means of keeping it in place.  I'll let you know how she fares/what she comes up with!
(She has also reminded me that she has a roll of sileage wrapping up for grabs - maybe another option!)

[arobwk]

Update - toeing the corners into a spade slot works, but takes for ever.  Steel wire pegs it will have to be (I'll be careful to retrieve them all idc).  When willow crop allows, I will experiment with fresh, bent willow cuttings and potentially increase propogation rate at the same time (although they will need to be dug and transplanted along the way).  MIght also plant a plot of bamboo (with rhizome barrier) for the long term.

[Marches Farmer]

I've found the best time to take cuttings is in late Autumn.  Slant the bottom cut, so you know which end goes in the soil, poke them in two buds deep and wait for Spring.  Success rate is usually around 80%.  Bunnies don't generally bother with them.

[clydesdaleclopper]

I've found the best time to take cuttings is in late Autumn.  Slant the bottom cut, so you know which end goes in the soil, poke them in two buds deep and wait for Spring.  Success rate is usually around 80%.  Bunnies don't generally bother with them.

The bunnies decimated mine. Of a few hundred cuttings only a couple survived 

[Penninehillbilly]

Deer cause problems round here, they love willow. how much snow dictates winter rabbit damage. 2/3 years ago we had drifts and they took the heads out of some small apple trees, and nearly killed the holly
Voles will also nibble round the Base.

[arobwk]

Delayed update: I have now used a combo of black silage wrap between willow rows with newspaper for the gaps along the rows, simply weighted down with a very bountiful supply of stones that ploughing and harrowing has eventually produced !!  The ground is sloping, so the rows will receive good run off of rain, but I've also punctured the wrap where each stone is placed to ensure inter-row penetration aswell.  The grass is resilient:  while the silage wrap is not totally opaque, I'm v surprised that it still looks like a buttoned mattress so many weeks later! 

I have rabbits and roe deer living on or frequenting my bit:  the bunnies were onto the willow cuttings in a flash.  Quick erection of rabbit netting simply staked with bamboo canes nipped that in the bud (pun intended).  As it is a very temporary arrangement, I merely strung 2 runs of fishing line above after experimenting with some fishing line 'barriers' across field openings and across the tops of stone walls where deer obviously cross.  Judging by the 'confused' hoof marks in the mud, they didn't like it one little bit (although a couple of attempts were obviously made to jump the 'invisible barriers' because the top line was broken a couple of times)!  So far, definately no rabbit and seemingly no deer intrusions into the fenced willow planting.   

Permanent rabbit/deer fencing to 5 acres is next 'project'.  Some fencing experimentation will be involved and a trial selection of components has been accumulated (including the Screwfix bundle of Tornado's premium rabbit netting - great price).  I'll report idc!