Brushwood Faggots

What are brushwood faggots?

Brushwood faggots are bundles of native UK brushwood, made from branches, brash and cuttings bound tightly together and supplied in ash, hazel or willow. Used as a revetment or toe support along a riverbank, ditch or pond edge, a faggot works as a physical barrier: it blunts the force of moving water, lets silt settle out, and gives new bankside vegetation somewhere to root.

Key benefits for UK land and water management

Faggots dissipate hydraulic energy and reduce scour along riverbanks, lake margins, ditches and other exposed edges, giving protection against flowing water and wave action. Once secured in place, they trap sediment and form a base for new plant growth. Over time, the settled silt and rooting vegetation bind with the faggot to build a stable, natural bank rather than a hard engineered one.

The bundles also give cover for fish, amphibians, invertebrates and small mammals, and help marginal and riparian plants establish along the water’s edge. By slowing water flow and trapping suspended solids, faggots act as a natural filter that reduces siltation in rivers, streams and ponds.

Because they are made from natural, renewable wood, faggots break down slowly and return organic matter to the soil as they decompose. They suit anything from a short length of ditch lining to a full river restoration scheme, install quickly across uneven ground, and usually cost less than hard engineering while integrating naturally into the site.

Typical UK applications

• Riverbank erosion control
• Stream and ditch lining
• Lake and pond edge stabilisation
• Creation of berms and terraces
• Scour protection around culverts and outfalls
• Habitat piling and refuge creation
• Natural flood management (NFM) projects
• Bioengineering and river restoration schemes
• Enhancing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)

Supply and enquiries

Phoenix Amenity Supplies provides brushwood faggots across the UK for erosion control, bank stabilisation and habitat projects. We can advise on species, faggot size and quantity for your site: send us your project details, or use the enquiry form below for a quote.