Country diary: The slow magic of growing a cricket bat from scratch | Michael White — SkimNews
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- Michael White fells willow trees he planted in his teenage years, which are being harvested to become cricket bats after a 20-30 year growing cycle, describing the moment as producing 'an acutely uncomfortable feeling... somewhere between grief and satisfaction'
- Cricket-bat willow cultivation begins by pushing long, living willow rods directly into damp ground during autumn, with the cuttings taking root the following spring
- Growers rub off side shoots over the years to produce straight, knot-free trunks that will yield premium bats, and must protect young trees from grazing animals
- Grey squirrels strip bark from the trees each spring to access nutrient-rich sap, leaving a legacy of decay that can render the wood unusable for bat-making
- Cricket-bat willow production can serve as environmentally enhancing diversification for farmers with damp pockets of land unsuitable for crops or grazing
- The column is drawn from 'Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024', published by Guardian Books
Why it matters: Cricket-bat willow is a niche but culturally distinctive UK crop with a 20-30 year turnaround, making it a countercultural long-term commitment for farmers with marginal, damp land — though grey squirrel bark-stripping can silently ruin two decades of investment by introducing decay into otherwise premium trunks.
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