Photograph: Michael White

Country diary: The slow magic of growing a cricket bat from scratch | Michael White

September 11, 2026 · The Guardian

In a valley located within Cranbrook, Kent, the close of the cricket season marks the start of tree-felling operations. Mature willow specimens, which successfully endured threats from local grey squirrels, are being brought down by chainsaws and hauled off for manufacture into cricket bats. The author, who works in managing woodlands, planted these trees as a teenager and tended to them over the years. Witnessing the harvest of these cultivated plants stirs a mixture of sorrow and contentment, recognizing their planned transition from a carefully maintained crop into essential sporting equipment.