'Sisal bush'

The country of Malawi homes millions of beautiful trees and plants; of different types, variety 's, colours and each have very individual uses.

The 'Sisal' bush is something special, and it's application is visible all throughout Malawi.

- One of its key uses is as a defence mechanism. In England we often use barbed wire to protect property and for use around the top of fences, in Malawi however they use the Sisal bush around the bottom of fences to prevent trespassers from getting in due to its solid and ferocious spikey exterior; easily capable of defending prey and unwanted visitors.

- The other main use of the Sisal bush is its application in DIY, namely string making. The rigid leaves are formed from thick, tensile fibres, which once stripped down, are rolled together over and over, forming a strong spiral effect, which is rolled across other leaves, forming long lengths of thick, strong, extremely versatile string, which is then used to tie mats, fences, wooden logs, thatching and hundreds of other day-to-day items making them ready for daily use.

The Sisal bush however is just one example of many plants and trees which are used for everyday items in Malawi.