Soulton Wood, renowned for its association with Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” as the Forest of Arden, also plays a unique role in the modern world – the cultivation of willow trees specifically for cricket bat production.
Today, JS Wright & Sons, the world’s largest and oldest established company supplying English willow used by top batsmen worldwide, are making sure the trees here are growing straight and true. They are not directly involved in bat making, but act as the supplier of the raw material (clefts) that bat makers use to create the final product.
Shakespeare Quote on a sign in the AS YOU LIKE IT wood at Soulton: And this our life exempt from public haunt
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones and good in every thing.
I would not change it.
The presence of cricket bat willows adds an unexpected layer to Soulton Wood’s historical significance. It’s a reminder that landscapes hold stories beyond their initial impressions, with connections to modern industries and sporting traditions existing alongside a rich literary legacy.
“What shall be our sport, then”
– As You Like It, William Shakespeare
The tweet below relates to harvesting of part of the crop in 2020 – forestry is an ongoing project.
#willows grown for #cricket 🏏 bats harvested today. pic.twitter.com/NI1nsgoEC3
— Soulton Hall (@SoultonHall) September 16, 2020
