Does growing location affect the quality of a cricket bat?
To make professional and high-grade cricket bats, the quality of the material used must be carefully considered. With English cricket bat willow, the type of environment and growing location determines whether the wood grows with a strong enough density and impact resistance.
Here we will outline the ideal growing locations and conditions for English cricket bat willows, and explain what can happen in the growing process to impact the quality of cricket bats.
Where is the optimum growing location for English willow?
Ideally English cricket bat willows are grown at 10 metre spacing along a ditch or river bank, or in a plantation at 12 metre centres. They can be staggered across a river to make optimum use of the land available.
A tree grows best when it has plenty of space; if it’s planted in a wood next to many other trees, it will have to compete with the other trees for sunlight and nutrients. This means it’ll take longer for the tree to reach full maturity which is a 58-inch (147cm) circumference at 4 foot 6 inches (142 cm) from the ground for English cricket bat willows.
Close proximity to water
It’s also important that these trees are planted near a water source like a riverbank or on a field with a high water table of say 18 inch (45 cm) to 30 inch (76 cm) so their roots can access the water supply comfortably. The water should be clean and flowing if possible, it can dry up in the summer months but not for a prolonged period while the trees are young.
Boosted by sunlight
A healthy amount of direct sunlight will also influence the quality of the tree’s wood, resulting in a lightweight and ‘diffuse porous’ cell structure synonymous with top-grade cricket bats.
Another key factor for a growing location is the fertility of the soil. If the soil doesn’t contain the right nutrients or environment for the tree, it can affect how quickly a tree grows and how fast the grower gets a return on his initial investment. The faster it grows the wider the grains on the finished cricket bat, as each grain is one years growth.
Growing locations to avoid for willow trees
English cricket bat willows don’t grow well by the sea because they’re exposed to harsher environments like heavy winds and storms. If the land is too salty or the air carries too much salt the growth of the tree will also be hindered.
Pests such as deer or squirrels cause a lot of damage to the trees. Metal deer guards can be purchased to protect the young trees from the deer although it is much more difficult to repel squirrels.
Both these animals can cause irrevocable damage to the trees as squirrels use the bark for bedding in their nests and eat the bark, whilst deer use them to sharpen their antlers.
Other contributing factors
It is interesting to note that if the trees are planted near a slurry pit or a pond surrounded by oak trees, or somewhere with lots of metal in the soil it can cause the tree wood to turn blue or black through the absorption of the substances into the cells. They will still be healthy but fetch a lower price at maturity.
Make an investment
From preparing the ground to planting and spacing the trees, we do everything “Wright” and can plant the best young trees in the optimal location on your land. This is why partnering with J.S. Wright & Sons is a sound investment for the future.