Choosing the right site, using the right techniques and managing the trees well throughout their rotation is vital to maximise their value.
What we look for when choosing the right area to plant
Site Conditions - access to water:
Cricket bat willows are pretty hardy trees but they prefer areas with plenty of sunlight and loamy, well-drained soils that retain moisture but do not become too waterlogged. These low lying, often underutilised & unproductive areas of land might be areas that can’t be grazed or drilled for crops or areas that have been churned up by grazing but provide perfect conditions for growing high value cricket bat willow timber.
Cricket bat willows thrive close to streams, rivers, ditches, brooks, dykes, river plains and floodplains where they can access groundwater. They will still grow if planted away from those areas but not as quickly and there may be more losses. A water table of 1 meter or less from the top soil and areas that periodically flood provide ample conditions for the trees to flourish.
If the site is wet and boggy, this is fine, there just needs to be dry periods in the year so harvesting can be carried out, also if the water is stagnant all year round there is risk the water becomes full of pollutants and algae which is not beneficial for the trees and risks wood stain and rot. If there is some form of flow to the water then this won’t be problem.
Soil Condition & Topography:
Stoney soils such as former quarries, sandy soils or clay soils are ideal. The ideal soil PH is fertile soils around 6-7.5 ph.
Flat or gently sloping terrain is preferable for planting but do avoid slopes or tops of hills where water will drain away from the trees and soil erosion can occur.
Bat willow do not compete well with other tall vegetation and so willow, poplar and all other tall vegetation should be kept cleared.
Avoid planting over field drains as the willows could block them.
As with most trees, planting areas where overhead telephone/electric cables exist should be avoided.
Avoid areas near to older native broadleaves, particularly oaks due to heightened risk of honey fungus disease.
The best place to plant would be at the crest of a riverbank. They can be planted up to a meter down from the crest (towards the river) but you do risk loosing valuable timber when it comes to harvesting due to the sloped angle and this can be a hazard when it comes to harvesting.
While bat willows can withstand wind, strong, persistent winds can damage young trees or affect their growth. Planting in a location sheltered from prevailing winds is advisable.
Planting in Woodland:
Unknown to many, Cricket bat willows can be included in newly planted woodlands. Mixed woodland can actually produce very good tight grained, high value cricket bat willows but will likely require a longer growing period than bat willows planted in open spaces.
A maximum of 10 year old whips can be standing before you plant the 14ft bat willows. It is essential to work with an experienced cricket bat willow business to prepare access to the willows for maintenance and felling and make sure there’s a clear plan in place to thin the woodland in the right areas.
Areas with more open canopy or edges of woodlands may be more suitable.
Planting Design & Access:
Cricket bat willows do grow quickly, have large crowns and don’t compete well, so 10m spacings (that's 100 trees/ha) are required to give them that adequate space to thrive. This wide planting spacing allows for the establishment of permanent lower shrub vegetation such as hazel and dogwood for improved wildlife and game habitat creation. The minimum spacing you could plant would be 8m spacings but this may add as much as 5 years to the growing time and could make them more susceptible to pathogens and diseases.
We advise planting a minimum of 5 meters out from any other hanging branches (other mature woodland). If any closer then you’ll get a leaning tree which creates a hazard as it matures.
If the vegetation is higher than waist height then a path needs to be cut through, within a foot or two of the base of the tree to allow for access when it comes to carrying out maintenance or for tree harvesting. Bat willows benefit from mowing operations immediately around the stems, (taking extra care to not nick the stem itself which could result in rotting) as it allows for constant air movement, preventing eel worm which can cause flecks in the wood, potentially devaluing the trees.
We often advise staggering the planting of bat willows to spread out income for the landowner and to assess the growing conditions and survival rate of that site.
Planting Techniques & What to Expect
What should I expect a Set/Sapling to be like to give it the best chance to grow into a tree of value? You should expect a Set to be unrooted and approximately 16ft tall. This unrooted Set will be planted at a minimum depth of 2-3ft. Some Sets may exhibit a kinked main stem which can cause concerns, however, our experience proves that the mature tree will straighten and ultimately produce a quality cleft. Sets should be between 1-3 inches in diameter (dbh).
When is the best time to plant a Set? Planting season is between December and the end of February. It is important to ensure that planting occurs after the last frost to protect young unrooted Sets and when the ground is soft but not waterlogged. If the unrooted Set is planted too late (March onwards), the Set can start to sprout and grow roots and the leaves can start to bud before it has been planted. Without the nutrients and water it needs to grow, the Set could dry out quickly, and when planted (out of season) these juvenile roots that had started to grow will rip off during planting and the tree will have to grow new roots with limited energy.
What is the technique for planting Sets successfully? We use an Earth Auger for larger Sets and more stubborn soils, otherwise an iron bar is used - we dig approximately 2-3 feet deep. Trees are planted using our unique planting techniques that are aimed at mitigating losses during droughts by boosting root growth as soon as they start growing in Spring. This is done by using fertiliser products and even mycorrhizal fungi. Once planted it will need heeling in immediately and preferably again after 2-3 weeks or after heavy winds. Set roots are very fragile so leaving a leaning set and only treading it in when we come back for maintenance risks the roots growing and then having to break off and regrow.
Do I need to stake my Set? If it is done properly there is no need to stake the tree (in isolated cases where the site is very exposed to strong prevailing winds staking may be advised) but individual guard protection against rabbit and deer is essential - read our blog here on tree guards for more information.
Can I mix bat willow into my BNG, SFI, NN, Carbon credit, Agroforestry or Flood mitigation plans? We are continually keeping ourselves up to date with the latest grant proposals and environmental schemes that can help landowners stack additional income streams. Contact us to find out more.
What other benefits does planting bat willows provide other than financial? Plantations provide habitat for bird species, small mammals and insects. They sequester carbon as they grow and retain it in the form of cricket bats. The plantations provide essential flood mitigation, soil and riverbank stabilisation and reduce soil erosion, in an increasingly wet and flood prone environment.
Tree Maintenance
Every year the apical tip dies, so it is essential that pruning takes place twice a year to ensure a straight. clean stem is achieved. We are the only company to offer free maintenance with no hidden deductions as we understand and don’t underestimate the importance of caring for the trees to produce high quality clefts to be made into top grade bats, which results in a high purchase price paid to landowners for their trees.
Read our Tree Maintenance blog for more detail on how this is done effectively - here.
In Summary
Identify suitable areas to plant - sunlight, soil type & topography should all be considered.
Work with professionals to effectively supply, plant and maintain your unrooted Sets
10m spacings is required to maximise the space to thrive (that's 100 trees per hectare of 40 trees per acre).
Staking is only required if your site is exposed to strong prevailing winds.
Set roots are very fragile so a leaning Set requires further treading in as soon as it is noticed.
Intermittent mowing operations immediately around the stem can help to prevent eel worms causing flecks in the wood.
Remove any major limbs that snap off to avoid water ingress and rotting.
Bat willows do not compete well with other tall vegetation so this should be kept cleared.
Professional maintenance is essential to increase survival rate and ensure they grow into high value timber (we offer this for free and can keep on top of the above points for you following our bi-annual visits)
Irrigation - in regions where natural water supply is insufficient, supplementary irrigation may be needed.
Cricket bat willows can be included in newly planted woodlands.
Cricket bat willow can also be included in some wider environmental schemes, stacking income - contact us to find out more.
We advise staggering planting to spread income and assess growing conditions.
The best part of all this? For just £20 +VAT per Set (the market price of a Set), we handle everything for you at no additional cost.
Think you may have a suitable site? Please feel free to get in touch - we always welcome questions and are happy to help.
01865 238 945
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