Evergreen broadleaf tree

[boney gumbo mcgee]

I also think it is a Ligustrum. There are loads of them at the zoo I used to work at as a gardener. They were about 12 foot tall and were originally planted as hedging on parts of the perimeter fence and have been left to go free range. Its only regular trimming that keeps the leaves small.

 

[Toddy]

Fiona and I had a shot with it too Xylaria. In the end we got best results by drying it out and then soaking it again to let us work it. It soaked down pretty quickly iirc.
Fresh stuff bends but it really, really, needs to be long whippy stuff to do much with. For the fish traps I could see it though

At the end of the day, folks used what they had. Privet, hazel, alder, willow; I know of all of them used in the past for fish traps.

atb,
M

 

[British Red]

I also think it is a Ligustrum.
Its only regular trimming that keeps the leaves small.

I've learned something there. Thank you

 

[boney gumbo mcgee]

Sorry, now I have thought more about it I am not 100% sure if it work for this variety, but it certainly does on Common privet - Ligustrum vulgare which is deciduous. But I will check with my boss at the nursery tomorrow.