Hello mate, nice to here from you. I have been thinking along the same line myself. I always end up making one for the lad when we camp it, its not such a leap to make a big boys one is it
I used to use Ash, there's always plenty of young ones about and they choke each other out of the light. I made ones for the boys out of hazel when they were little.
I hadn't thought of the leylandii, it makes good firebows though
cheers,
Toddy