Willow: What happens to the bits we don’t use?
Growing and supplying willow to cricket bat manufacturers is a lot of work and involves a lot of wood.
And while we constantly replace the trees we cut down to make our work sustainable, what happens to the bits of wood we don’t use?
While we use as much willow as possible when manufacturing our cricket bats, there are also some parts that we can’t use. But we don’t just throw it away. We ensure we reuse and recycle as much as possible:
Sawdust
The excess sawdust produced (one fine, one course) goes to two small businesses:
– To a mushroom grower in Leicestershire who grows oyster, reishi, shiitake and chestnut mushrooms in sawdust (yes, really!)
– To a horse riding school where it’s used as bedding for horses
Wood and bark
Our excess wood and bark are recycled by LC Energy, a biomass energy company in Gomshall, Surrey. The offcuts are taken to their depot and mixed with other types of wood to ensure the perfect moisture content before being turned into pellets to provide heating, etc.
Branches and leaves
Small branches and leaves are the only elements of the tree we cannot reuse, which is why we have a burning licence to dispose of them ethically.
Trees with large knots/misshapen trees
While trees with large knots or misshapen trees aren’t suitable for making adult cricket bats, we use them to make:
– Children’s bats
– Laminated bats(a good-quality bat face which is attached to the front of a lower-grade bat)
– Garden trug baskets
How serious we are about sustainability
Reusing as much willow as possible is in our DNA, but so is recycling other materials too, which is why our depot:
– Recycles plastic cups via www.thefirstmile.co.uk
– Sends waste metal to a local recycler
– Reuses and recycles cardboard
Given the nature of our work, we are well aware of the need to move towards renewable energy, which is why we have solar panels installed on-site with a view to adding more soon.
To learn more about our sustainability practice, take a look at our article, Felling: Why it’s about more than just cutting down trees or visit our Sustainability page.
Want to plant willow trees on your land?
Then why not talk to us?
At JS Wright & Sons, we have over 125 years of experience growing and supplying English cricket bat willow to cricket bat manufacturers. Take advantage of our knowledge and partner with us to produce some of the country’s finest English cricket bat willows by planting willow trees on your land.