One of our favourite signs of spring around the site, is the appearance of the catkins (or "lambs' tails" as we grew up calling them) on the willows. Catkins are an excellent early food source for our honey bees, and other bees, and the female catkins elongate after pollination, releasing their seeds.
Although there are several UK native species of willow (grey, white, goat, weeping etc), they frequently hybridise and can be hard to tell apart. There can be subtle differences in catkin shape between them.
Willows are also loved by caterpillars, who feed on their leaves, by cricketers, who love the wood (which is used in traditional cricket bats), and by crafters and weavers who can use the bendy twigs to weave baskets or wreaths. Willow bark contains salicin, a traditional pain killer, and related to the more modern 'aspirin'.
Our Willow Pitch is one of our campers' favourites. A premium camping pitch, set on it's own, with a kitchen cabin and composting loo, ideal for large families. Although sheltered by a nearby hedge, the pitch has great views to the north, east and south, and catches the last heat of the setting sun on a balmy summer evening. A great place for appreciating our dark skies and enjoying some star-gazing too.
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