Rooted in the Game: Why Farmers Should Consider Cricket Bat Willow

As the next Ashes series looms on the cricketing calendar, it’s timely to reflect on how the iconic contest between England and Australia creates a broader spotlight on the raw material behind cricket bats. The sport depends on quality timber from English willow and growing that timber may offer opportunities for landowners.

When a bat made from prime English willow is used in Tests, from the famous stroke-play of national heroes to the domestic grass-roots club games that feed the talent pyramid, landowners planting bat willow can feel a direct link to that wider cricketing ecosystem. Imagine a tree planted today in your field potentially contributing, in 15-20 years, to a bat used by a rising national star!

Growing cricket-bat willow (typically Salix alba caerulea) in the UK offers an interesting land-use alternative for farmers and landowners, especially in wetter or marginal areas, but it comes with a long time‐horizon and several caveats. Here’s a breakdown of what you should know.

Timeline and growing conditions

Cricket‐bat willow thrives in moist, fertile soils often associated with riverbanks, floodplains or heavy soils with a high water table (within ~1m of surface) and good access to sunlight.

Planting is typically done in the winter months (December to February) when the sap is dormant. Trees are widely spaced - about 10m between trees (~100 trees per hectare) is fairly standard. They take around 15-20 years to reach maturity for bat-grade timber. In some cases, the quickest possible may be 12-15 years under ideal conditions, but that tends to be the exception rather than the norm. In short, this is not a short‐rotation crop.

Economics and returns

For land that is low-lying, damp or under-utilised, planting bat willow offers a potentially useful diversification option. After around 15-20 years, well-maintained trees could yield returns of up to £100,000 per hectare (based on 100 trees/ha, with mature tree values of ~£800-£1,000+ each) before tax-free allowances.

It is important to remember that the planting cost for initial 'sets' (unrooted cuttings) might be around £2,000 + VAT per hectare for the establishment phase. Further, growers emphasise that for many operations the plantation is not classed as woodland, so different tax/regime rules may apply (in some cases returns can be largely tax-free). So, for a landowner with damp ground that is otherwise unproductive for arable or grazing, this could represent a meaningful long‐term asset.

Beyond just the sale price of the timber, there can be ancillary benefits: the crop can contribute to biodiversity, flood‐plain or river‐bank stabilisation, carbon sequestration (the timber itself locks carbon) and may open up future grants/management funding in some cases.

What’s the catch?

• The long timeframe: 15-20 years (or more) before a decent return, meaning capital and land are tied up

• The requirement for an appropriate site: the wrong soil or water conditions will slow growth or increase failure rates

• Maintenance is key: pruning, managing side shoots, ensuring straight stems and protection against pests and disease all matter. Without good management, value falls.

• Market risk: although demand for English willow for bats is strong, competition (including from overseas materials or substitution options) may evolve

• Opportunity cost: if not truly marginal, land might be better used for more immediate returns

• Harvesting access: because trees may sit in low or damp ground, machinery access at harvest may be challenging unless carefully planned

• Planting and establishment risk: there is a risk of tree loss, lean growth or poor stem quality, which directly reduces value

Who should consider planting it?

If you are a farmer or landowner with:

• Low‐lying, wet or heavy ground not well suited to arable or improved pasture

• A willingness to commit land for the long term (15-20 years)

• A desire to diversify away from conventional crops

• Interest in forestry or woodland crops and willingness to adopt suitable management regimes

• Some comfort with long-term economics rather than quick turnover

…then planting cricket-bat willow could be an attractive option. On the other hand, if your land is prime arable or pasture, you need a return in the next 5-10 years, or you lack the ability or interest to manage a long‐rotation crop, then it might not be the best fit.

How Oakbank supports woodland and willow growers

Woodland creation and management: from assessing soil and hydrology to designing planting layouts and managing establishment grants, we help farmers turn underused ground into productive woodland assets.

For landowners looking at diversification, bat-willow offers a compelling niche: it uses marginal and wet ground, produces a high‐value timber commodity and offers ecological and carbon benefits, but demands patience, a suitable site, good management and a long time-horizon. It is not a quick win, but for the right site and mindset, it could become a valuable generational asset.