07/04/23 - The UK National Willow Collection
What connects military strategy after WWI, with the search for new drugs and materials to replace plastics? Sarah Swadling visits the UK's National Willow Collection.
The UK's National Willow Collection was set up in the aftermath of WWI when a War Office review identified there had been a shortage of willow to make containers for ammunition.
100 years on, plastic is now used to do many of the jobs willow once did. But the collection is now run by Rothamsted Research, where scientists are looking at the potential for new materials to be made from willow that could replace plastic.
In this programme, Sarah Swadling visits the Collection, which has over 1500 different willows and celebrates it's 100th anniversary this year.
Presented and produced for 麻豆社 Audio in Bristol by Sarah Swadling
Last on
Broadcast
- Fri 7 Apr 2023 05:45麻豆社 Radio 4
Farming Tomorrow: Another Country with James Rebanks
A document of the lives of rural workers in and around three English villages.
Farming Tomorrow: AI on the Farm
Charlotte Smith explores how artificial intelligence is transforming agriculture.
Farming Tomorrow: The Briefing Room asks How will climate change affect our farms?
Will we still be able to grow enough food as temperatures rise and rain patterns change?
Farming Tomorrow: Kiri's Farm
A stand-up comedian, a vegan and a farmer walk into a bar.
Podcast
-
![]()
Farming Today
The latest news about food, farming and the countryside
