A cricket bat making business has launched a range using wood exclusively from Suffolk.
The Suffolk Select range made by West Row-based Garrard & Flack has been produced using willow from trees felled in Sudbury.
The company plans to make around 50 bats for the range this season - each with a burgundy-coloured grip in Suffolk colours and all handcrafted by business owners Ed Garrard and Liam Flack, who away from the workshop both play for Lakenheath Cricket Club.
In its first full year in 2017 the company sold 200 bats mostly to local players but also to a number of retailers, while around 30 bats have been exported abroad to Australia and South Africa.
“Every bat is custom-made, so players can choose the length they want, as well as the grain structure,” said Ed.
“We hope one day that we can source all our wood in Suffolk and are talking to local farmers about planting some willows on their land.”
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