Blenheim Estate branches out to help hurling beat threat of ash dieback
Blenheim Estate has stepped up to help the Irish national sport of hurling, by supplying hundreds of ash trees which are needed to make the hurling sticks or ‘hurleys’ used by players. Ireland’s own stock of the wood has been decimated by ash dieback, hymenoscyphus fraxineus, a lethal disease first detected in the UK and Ireland in 2012.
Richard McCarthy, an Irish hurley maker who sources ash for many of the country’s top manufacturers including Star Hurley in Kilkenny, has been working with James Hunter, Rural Property Manager at Blenheim Palace, on a deal which will see around 1,000 ash tree ‘butts’ harvested from the Blenheim Estate, which will in turn be used to make between 5,000-10,000 hurleys.
Hurling is the second most attended sport in Ireland, after Gaelic Football, and is played by around 275,000 people. There is a huge demand for hurleys in Ireland, with approximately 100,000 bought every year.
Although thousands of acres of ash trees were planted in Ireland 30 years ago, ash dieback has decimated the stock, particularly the younger trees.
Mr McCarthy, whose ash is used by many of the sport’s top players including T.J. Reid, commented: “I heard about the ash at Blenheim when James contacted me last year; we previously worked together on another estate where we cut wood for hurleys.
“Ash is used because it is very strong, flexible and lightweight – everything we need for hurleys. When I’m looking for suitable ash I like to use the ash that’s between 30-50 years old, has nice smooth bark and is fast growing. The bottom of the tree is very important and we need good root formation – this is key as this is where we get the curve for the shape of the hurley.
“From what I’ve seen at Blenheim from my visit, I think the ash looks very good, so hopefully we can get good quality hurleys from it.”
James Hunter added: “As part of our active woodland management this year, we have commenced a series of works to thin and clear fell several compartments suffering from the advanced stages of ash dieback. Whilst the majority of the timber will go for firewood, it’s great to see some value being realised and a niche market being supported such as Richie’s business with hurling sticks.
“However, I think it should be made clear that we are not clearing all ash from the Estate, as we look to see if we have resistant specimens which may in the future be bred for ‘dieback’ resistant ash trees, to ensure they do not disappear from the British landscape forever. We are working with several partners to provide support where we can for this important research and who knows, those trees may also one day be harvested to make hurleys.”
Hurling is not the only sport which buys wood from the Blenheim Estate; for the last seven years, Banbury-based English Willow has been sustainably sourcing Cricket Bat Willow trees from the estate. In 2018, the firm purchased and felled a significant number of trees from the estate – enough to produce around 2,300 top grade cricket bats for the global cricket industry – and replaced them free of charge. Each year it supplies around 100 cricket bat willow ‘whips’ to replace those harvested for bats.
This high value, distinctly British timber is fast growing (taking just 15-20 years to mature) and suited to low-lying, wet and often underutilised areas of land. Soaking up to 50-100 gallons of water a day, Cricket Bat Willow offers excellent flood mitigation, soil stabilisation and habitat for wildlife.
Over 70% of the timber is not usable for bat making, and contractors often burn waste on-site which is unpopular with landowners and environmentalists. English Willow are pioneers in their industry, repurposing tree waste into cow bedding, biomass, kindling and woodchip.
Jonny Clarke, director at English Willow, said: “We manage the full process, including free maintenance to ensure the trees offer the highest possible returns at maturity and for generations to come.
“We are in complete control to ensure this is a successful venture for the Estate, providing constant support and expert advice to its already busy forestry team.”
Rachel Furness-Smith, Head of Estates at Blenheim Palace, commented: “Working with English Willow means we can manage our willow trees in a sustainable and organic way, which is good for the environment, promotes bio-diversity and makes use of traditionally unproductive areas of the estate.”
ENDS
Issued on behalf of Blenheim Palace. For more information please contact Jon Perks at Cab Campaign – estate@cabcampaign.co.uk
About Blenheim Palace
Home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705, Blenheim Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Set in over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped park and gardens, it was designed by Vanbrugh in the Baroque style and is also the birthplace of one of Britain’s most famous leaders, Sir Winston Churchill.
With over 300 years of history to share and one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe, the magnificent stately home has a rich variety of cultural highlights and an extensive programme of special events and exhibitions.
The total Estate expands into a further 10,000 acres outside of the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and focuses on care for the land through sustainable means, pursuing net zero, the growth of the local economy, the provision of affordable homes, apprenticeship training and supported community groups as part of its ambition to make this part of Oxfordshire a fairer and better place.
About Blenheim Estate
At Blenheim Estate Land we know that our land is precious and finite, but cared for properly its benefits can be limitless. Yet today there are fresh challenges like climate change, an ageing population and increasing urbanisation.
So our approach – spanning a number of projects – needs to be as sophisticated, enduring and holistic as those issues we face.
By adopting new methods of valuing our natural capital we can view our land resources as part of an ecosystem. An ecosystem whose benefits extend to the air we all breathe, the green transport solutions that connect our communities, the physical and mental health we enjoy, and the quality of the food we consume.
About English Willow
English Willow is a dedicated team of cricket bat willow tree suppliers, growers, buyers and cleft makers. We create new plantations, buy mature trees and replace each tree felled. The planting returns income from low-lying and often under-utilised areas of land, achieving a generous tax free, generational return.
Based in Banbury, Oxon, we are the most centrally located cricket bat tree producer/manufacturer in the UK. We oversee every project with a personal tailored service – being a small, friendly and agile business we manage everything in-house and can offer many tailored options to suit each client’s requirements
