Sponsored by
England cricket team could be wiedling bats from Peterborough trees
Work starts to chop down willows in Orton Mere and Thorpe Meadows which will be used to make cricket bats. Photo: Rowland Hobson/Peterborough ET
ENGLAND’S all-conquering cricket heroes could soon be wielding bats made from Peterborough timber.
Tree surgeons will remove 63 white willow trees from beside the rowing lake at Thorpe Meadows this week, with the trunks of the trees set to be turned into cricket bats.
The trees were planted more than three decades ago and need to be replaced to stop branches falling dangerously in high winds.
White willows are perfect for turning into cricket bats and it is possible that some could soon be in the hands of Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen.
The work is being carried out by world-renowned cricket specialists JS Wright and Sons, who have been producing bats for more than a century.
Nene Park Trust landscape manager Clare Freeman said: “The 42 trees nearest the lake will be taken out this week, as well as 21 in Orton Mere Wood.
“The trees were planted 35 years ago and they are starting to get too old. It is important we take them out now, as if they get too old and hollowed out they won’t be able to be used in the future.
“We will plant more trees to replace them by the beginning of March, which will maintain a screen along the Nene Parkway and a wind break for the rowing course.
“The trees are fast growing, so it should not be long before they are at full height.
“The father of Oliver Wright, who is a director at JS Wright and Sons, based in Chelmsford, was involved in planting the willows, so it is nice that it has gone full circle.
“We hope to be able to keep track of some of the bats that are produced, so we can give one to a local cricket team and also have one to use on school visits to show children what wood grown in Peterborough can be used for.”
Oliver Wright, the fourth generation of his family to run the business, said it was not possible to tell how good the wood quality of the trees were until the tree had been chopped down.
He said: “There are 24 grades of wood for a cricket bat and we cannot tell until the tree is felled what grades occur. Gradings range from the top quality bats that will be used by the professional cricket players to the lowest quality bats nicknamed ‘firewood bats’.”
Park ranger Ashley Wheal said: “There are plans to remove other trees from the area in the near future as well, because they are getting to the end of their life.
“This will be a regular thing that has to be done every 35 years or so to keep the trees safe. A lot of people use the park, so it is important to keep them in good condition.
“We also want to keep the pathway as an avenue, with trees on both sides, so we will keep replacing them as well.”
The trees will be being chopped down until Wednesday and the branches will be chipped for use in the park on Thursday and Friday.
Public access to both Thorpe Meadows and Orton Mere will be maintained throughout the works but visitors are asked to follow any safety notices and diversions put in place during the felling operation.
Making cricket bats
CRICKET bats are normally made from a specific species of white willow, known as cricket bat willow.
The wood is soaked in linseed oil to act as a protective measure.
Willow is used as it is shock resistant as well as lightweight.
Willow is graded by a number of points but most importantly the quality relates to the straightness of the grain, the width of the grain and the appearance of any blemishes in the willow which does not necessarily detract from the performance of the willow.
The art of making cricket bats by hand is known as pod shaving.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.