Willow catkins

Today's the day ....................... to google

This is the next stage on from those white fluffy willow catkins that everyone loves to see at the start of spring.  And it's not just good to look at, the willow is actually a very useful tree for a variety of reasons.  Here's a few of them - 

'Willow wood has been used in house building, as frames for coracles, wheel spokes in Celtic chariots, for clothes pegs, turnery, tanning leather, as fodder for livestock, and to make charcoal.  Willow's ability to absorb shock without splintering is still utilised to make cricket bats and stumps - cricket bat willow is a variety of the white willow and Dutch clogs are traditionally made from willow wood as well. 

Willow regrows quickly whether felled at the base (coppicing) or above the height at which grazing animals can reach (pollarding), often growing four to 10 feet in one season. Cuttings or twigs pushed into the ground can grow roots and produce a new tree and, in other parts of the world such as China, willow has come to symbolise immortality, renewal and vitality ...............