In Lombardy, Emilia, Romagna, Tuscany, the Marches, Umbria and the southern provinces, they are trained to trees which are either left in their natural state or subjected to pruning and pollarding.
Pollarding willows osier cutting Osiers The osier willow, Salix viminalis, was important to both the riverside economy and the local wildlife.
The work has proved unpopular with some as pollarding, when trees are cut right back, tho necessary, can appear very drastic.