Exploring the surprising link between As You Like It and the timber used in cricket bats for elite sport

Today, willow trees are being felled at Soulton Hall, where the the woodland linked to Thomas Lodge’s Rasalynde and Shakespeare’s As You Like It slumbers.

This marks a transition for these willows of Soulton Hall, moving from their place by the “murmuring stream” to become an integral part of the wonderful sport of cricket.

These trees have been looked after for decades in a former River Meadow, planted for decates to cricket bat willows, where you will certainly find:

… an oak whose antique root peeps out
Upon the brook that brawls along this wood

by the Ashton family and by JS Wright & Sons.

With a heritage stretching back to 1894, JS Wright and Sonsstands as a cornerstone of cricket bat manufacturing, supplying the willow for approximately 75% of the world’s bats.

The process of felling and preparing the wood is underway to transform these trees into bats for the glorious game.

We are delighted that we are keeping one of the bats and have it in mind to give it as a very special gift.

This connection highlights the diverse uses of natural resources and the journey of timber from the landscape to sporting applications.

These trees are – curiously enough – located close by Roaslaynde’s Cottage as Celia describes in Shakespeare’s As You Like It:

OLIVER
…
Where in the purlieus of this forest stands
A sheep-cote fenced about with olive trees?
CELIA
West of this place, down in the neighbour bottom:
The rank of osiers by the murmuring stream
Left on your right hand brings you to the place.
But at this hour the house doth keep itself;
There’s none within.

The “osiers” mentioned are a type of willow that often grows along waterways.

It fills us with immense pleasure to envision the joy that will soon ripple through the world of cricket, all thanks to the trees we’ve just felled. Each trunk holds the promise of finely crafted bats, instruments that will connect players with the thrill of the game and deliver countless moments of excitement to fans. To think that these timbers will contribute to powerful strokes, skillful defenses, and ultimately, the collective delight of cricket enthusiasts everywhere brings a profound sense of satisfaction. These ideas are reflected in these lines from As You Like It:

CELIA:

… my sweet Rose, my dear Rose, be merry.
ROSALIND
From henceforth I will, coz, and devise sports.

Oak timber from Soulton Wood was also selected to repair the WWII bomb damage to the chamber of the House of Commons.

This felling also presents a valuable opportunity to acknowledge the dedicated foresters who have tended Solton Wood across the centuries. We especially want to publicly thank the recent generations who have carried on this vital stewardship:

• Terry Greenwood,
• Richard Fordham, and
• Liam Monahan, who attended today with his lads.

Their expertise and care have nurtured these trees to maturity, and it is through their diligent work that we are now able to provide such a valuable resource for the world of cricket. We extend our sincere gratitude for their commitment to Soulton Wood.

These matters were covered in a Shriopshire Star article:

‘From Shakespeare’s Woods to the Wicket: Soulton willow trees felled for elite cricket bats‘.