A Native with an Exotic History: The Cricket Bat Willow, Salix alba var. caerulea

CRICKET BAT WILLOWS GROWING BESIDE THE CHELMER AT LANGLEYS

A favourite walk near Little Waltham not only for us but, especially during lockdown periods for many, is at the Langleys Estate on the public footpath through the park. This road takes us through an avenue of trees between fields cultivated with arable crops or pasture land. The considerable history of the location (see the Essex Garden Trust Inventory report on Langleys) with three gate houses and a grand and interesting mansion exists beside what is clearly a working farm.

The fields rise and fall gently in classic English pastoral manner beside the meandering Chelmer River, at times flowing beside the path or glinting in the distance as it curves away. There are many fine large trees lining the avenue, oak and lime and sweet chestnut in particular, but what catches your eye most is the smaller but straight soldier trees planted very close to the river: they wind with the curves, close and far. They vary in girth and in height, some have been newly planted during the period of our frequent walks, others are older, but all have an unmistakably purposeful air.

CRICKET BAT WILLOWS AT LANGLEYS

I have in studying the layout of the estate trees through the seasons come to understand that these trees too are a crop. They are cricket bat willows, Essex cricket bat willows, producing a timber famous worldwide. Salix alba var. caerulea is a fast-growing native that has the characteristic of developing unaided a very straight trunk, quite different from the lazy bending willows draping themselves in wild spots over streams. It can reach a height of 30 m with a spire-shaped compact canopy held high, as one of the instructions to growers is to rub off the side shoots immediately as they develop to maximise the smooth length that will be harvested.

If you seek to learn more you will find a notable company advertising itself as the ‘World’s Largest Cricket Bat Willow Supplier’ only five miles away from Langleys in Great Leighs, J S Wright. Its extensive website describes how the four year old sets supplied to growers are bought from other farmers producing tods or stools that offer harvests of sets or shoots. There are then two crops for farmers, set growing and mature willow production. Once the trees are planted in the best positions for continuous damp but maximum support, there is little maintenance. The timber company advises the grower and harvests the mature trees. It is the nature of the timber, the way its light strong fibres grow, that enables its special use, and therefore value. Bats of English willow offer balance, power, durability and resistance to splitting because of the straight grain and are used around the world, from England to India to Pakistan to Australia.

In fact the internet is the forum for debate on the monopoly of English willow in the world market – is it really as good as its reputation would have it? Attempts have been made to grow the native willow species elsewhere, in Pakistan and Australia for example, with mixed success. Alternative materials such as aluminium have been tried without catching the trade. We see, therefore, this locally grown native go round the world and fine cricketers boast of using the wood. 

VIRAT KOHLI WITH HIS BAT

Virat Kohli, who recently led India to victory in the last Test, boasts of his choice: ‘The captain of the Indian cricket team uses bats that weigh between 1.1 and 1.23 kg and are made of Grade-A English willow. They have a curved blade, with a thickness ranging from 38 to 42 mm.’ 

What about Alistair Cooke? The Essex County Cricket Club remains silent on his choice.

All images, author’s own