As usual it was a gloriously sunny day for this week’s Green Gym, and it wasn’t long before most of us were working in short sleeves! This week’s task was helping the Rangers at Afton Marsh, by clearing some young willow trees to prevent them taking over this particular area. We then stacked the cut portions in neat piles, and the ubiquitous bonfire was soon burning merrily. As some of the cut branches were just the right size, we also cut some stakes for the Rangers to use for hedge laying practice at Pan.
Willows are mostly found near river banks, and have the ability to quickly re-grow several feet in one season merely by pushing a healthy branch cutting into the soil - even upside down! Country folk have been familiar with the healing properties of willow for a long time. They made an infusion from the bitter bark as a cold and fever remedy, and young willow twigs were also chewed to relieve pain. The isolation of the active ingredient for such pain relief - salicyclic acid - was later developed and marketed as Aspirin.
Uses for willow included coracle frames and charcoal manufacture, and its ability to absorb shock without splintering is still utilised in the making of cricket bats and stumps, while the Dutch traditionally make their clogs from willow wood. The Celts used it for the spokes of their chariot wheels, gypsies for their clothes pegs and the bark was used as fodder for livestock and a dye for tanning leather.
Willows are mostly found near river banks, and have the ability to quickly re-grow several feet in one season merely by pushing a healthy branch cutting into the soil - even upside down! Country folk have been familiar with the healing properties of willow for a long time. They made an infusion from the bitter bark as a cold and fever remedy, and young willow twigs were also chewed to relieve pain. The isolation of the active ingredient for such pain relief - salicyclic acid - was later developed and marketed as Aspirin.
Uses for willow included coracle frames and charcoal manufacture, and its ability to absorb shock without splintering is still utilised in the making of cricket bats and stumps, while the Dutch traditionally make their clogs from willow wood. The Celts used it for the spokes of their chariot wheels, gypsies for their clothes pegs and the bark was used as fodder for livestock and a dye for tanning leather.
This week both the pictures and editorial are down to our cub reporter......nice one Carrie...!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment