Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC

Hiding a composting site behind willows

Back to the vegetated barrier
Installed 2024 · Visual screen from a dense willow planting
~400 m
Length
16,000
Willows planted
3–4 m
Functional height

Context

The Compo-Haut-Richelieu composting site sits alongside a road, where operations were directly exposed to view from the public roadway.

The site's perimeter had no visual screen to separate the operating area from the road corridor.

The solution implemented

Ramo installed a ~400 m visual screen through a dense willow planting.

The approach relies on:

  • planting at high density (~16,000 stems)
  • arranged in continuous strips
  • amended with compost produced on site

The willows (selected for their rapid growth and their ability to close the cover within a few seasons) allow for coherent integration with the site's activities.

Aerial view of the vegetated barrier at Compo-Haut-Richelieu
Drone view (a ~400 m willow visual screen integrated into the Compo-Haut-Richelieu site, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu).

Results and performance

  • continuous visual screen over ~400 m
  • reduced visibility of operations from the road
  • cover closure within a few seasons
Willow vegetated screen concealing the Compo-Haut-Richelieu site
Closed visual screen alongside the road (concealing the composting site's operations from the public roadway).

Before / After, over 2 years

The same view from the road, two years apart: the row of willows has thickened and closed the visual screen. Growth continues: roughly 10 more feet of height are expected over the next two years. Drag the slider to compare.

Compo-Haut-Richelieu site in July 2025 (dense willow screen concealing the site from the road) Compo-Haut-Richelieu site in July 2023 (sparse vegetation, buildings visible from the road)
July 2023 July 2025

Before / after over 2 years · Google Street View, Compo-Haut-Richelieu site

Co-benefits

Site integration

Uses compost produced on site as an amendment (a short loop, consistent with the site's mission).

Functional layout

A clear visual separation between the road and the operating area.

Back to the vegetated barrier solution

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