fascina

Fascina is an Italian noun meaning a bundle, sheaf, or cluster, especially of sticks or reeds bound together. In Italian, a fascina refers to a bound bundle used for binding, carrying, or construction. The word is the source of the English loanword fascine, used in technical contexts to describe long bundles of brushwood bound together for practical purposes. A fascina typically consists of slender branches such as willow or hazel, bound with rope, wire, or twine.

Fascines have a long history in civil and military engineering. In river and shoreline engineering they are placed to form revetments and to stabilize or reconstruct soft banks, often laid in layers and partially buried to encourage vegetation growth. In military engineering, fascines were used to fill trenches or to create a stable passage for troops and vehicles, enabling crossings of rough terrain or ditches. In landscaping and restoration projects, fascines are used for slope stabilization, erosion control, and habitat restoration; they can be combined with soil and vegetation to produce a living, growing structure.

The term is primarily used in technical English and Italian, and related terms include fascine mats and brushwood revetments. While modern practice often uses synthetic or geosynthetic materials, fascines remain a recognized tool in green infrastructure and historical contexts.