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Growing

What:

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  • Cared for and cultivated by hand in an organic and sustainable environment, we help grow Cricket Bat Willow trees, Salix Alba Caerulea, all over the UK.

  • Grown in wide spacings, 100 trees per hectare or one tree every 10m, along watercourses.

  • High value timber takes approximately 15 years from planting before harvesting.

  • The timber is used to make ‘English Willow’ cricket bats worldwide.

 

Why:

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Farm/Forest diversification:

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  • Good use of otherwise underproductive land: low-lying, wet heavy soils.

  • An investment with proven and profitable returns.

  • Low input with a guaranteed buy-back when mature

  • ‘Green’ reasons:

  • Riverbank restoration; bank and soil stabilisation.

  • Conservation; wildlife, biodiversity and sporting benefits.

  • Carbon sequestration; Cricket Bat Willow trees absorb C02 throughout their growth, which is then locked in the final product. For every tree harvested, it is replaced with a new sapling and thus, the C02 capturing cycle continues.

  • Keeping a tradition alive and supporting the industry. Craftsmen have been creating the finest bats from English Willow since the 18th Century.

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How:

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  • There is no area too big or small to grow Cricket Bat Willow; follow a river, ditch or stream, utilise a wet field corner or low lying wetland.

  • Planting takes place every January - February.

  • We offer a complete service: Consultation, Establishment and Maintenance, through to Harvest and Replanting. 

  • Please contact us if you are interested in planting Cricket Bat Willow trees, or to arrange a site visit, if you think you may have any mature Willows that are ready to fell.

Harvesting

English Willow currently purchase mature Cricket Bat Willow trees across the whole of the UK.

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  •  No minimum or maximum quantities when purchasing.

  •  We pride ourselves in having continual, long-standing relationships with many landowners, farmers and estates across the country.

  •  For every tree purchased, we supply and plant a replacement sapling (known as a set) completely free of charge and can guarantee buy-back once mature.

  •  We are passionate about supporting the growth of these trees and can offer a comprehensive maintenance service to ensure all replacement sets are cared for until they reach maturity.

  •  We will happily give you a free quotation if you have, or think you might have, Cricket Bat Willow trees that are approaching, at or past harvesting age. Please contact us here.

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